Ranchi, Jan. 27: Stepping up the heat on rebels carrying reward on their heads, police today airdropped posters and pamphlets, carrying details of Naxalites and seeking help from commoners to catch them, in remote areas of Simdega district.
Although anti-Naxalite operations have been intensified across Jharkhand, over 200 rebels are still giving a hard time to police personnel. They have taken shelter in remote forest villages in the guise of peasants and labourers and often slip into the neighbouring states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh through forest routes.
"Eleven PLFI rebels carrying reward on their heads are at large. Most of the villagers are not aware of how they look like and their criminal record. These posters will force them abandon their dens," said Simdega SP Rajeev Ranjan Singh.
His Lohardaga counterpart Kartik S. added that they had airdropped posters and pamphlets in several areas of his district several weeks ago. Over a dozen dreaded rebels are now learnt to be operating in Lohardaga.
Latehar SP Dhananjay Singh claimed that over a hundred rebels, wanted by police, either had their roots in Latehar or were operating there. Rebels from several other states, including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, were also active in Latehar.
Contractors arrested
Two contractors were arrested from different parts of the state capital on Thursday night for allegedly carrying out construction work at the behest of PLFI supremo Dinesh Gope. Dinesh Kumar Nag and Khuleshwar Gope were also involved in torching machines engaged in laying an oil pipeline in Karra area on January 18.
During interrogations, the duo admitted that they were engaged in construction of six important roads in Khunti and that Gope provided them financial assistance for the projects. In return, they handed 50 per cent of the net profit to the rebel leader.
In the January 18 incident, Dinesh and Khuleshwar also manhandled employees at the construction site. An SUV and a car used in the arson were seized by police last night. Four persons were arrested in this connection on January 22.
<>"A special investigation team was formed at the direction of Chotanapur DIG A.V. Homkar to nail the contractors. The levy collected by PLFI supremo Dinesh Gope is being invested in road construction projects through contractors. They are trying to force construction companies from other states to flee," said Khunti SP Ashwini Kumar Sinha.
