Patna: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which is fighting Maoists across the state, has decided to intensify its operations in the Gaya-Aurangabad border.

The move comes after the January 2 Gaya incident where CRPF jawan Ashish Patra, 29, was martyred after receiving bullet injuries during an exchange of fire between Maoists in the hills of Chakarbandha on the border of Gaya-Aurangabad.

CRPF inspector-general, Manvinder Singh Bhatia, conducted a meeting in this connection at the CRPF headquarters. DIG and commandant-rank officials attended the meet. The CRPF IG issued a directive to intensify operations in the Bihar-Jharkhand border.

Bhatia said: "The security forces have successfully checked Naxal operations in the Gaya-Aurangabad region, but there has been stray incidents when Maoists have attacked security forces. The CRPF personnel have to identify such Maoist groups and intensify operations against them."

He issued necessary guidelines on how security personnel should carry out operations in the forest areas. According to sources in the CRPF, there are three areas that are under Maoist influence - the Jamui/Nawada/Giridih (triangular section), the Gaya-Aurangabad section and the Lakhisarai/Munger/Banka/Jamui section, which are under the Left Wing extremist zone.

Sources said some of the Maoist leaders are active in these areas for decades and are out of the police clutches.