Intelligence sleuths on Saturday sounded an alert that Naxals were working on a strategy to open a new corridor between Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in the coming winter by taking advantage of freezing cold and foggy situation in the forested border region.
A senior police officer told this newspaper here that the Maoists were trying to revive their lost ground in Balrampur and Jashpur regions in north Chhattisgarh bordering Jharkhand in coming winter, when the climate turns hostile as mercury plummets to sub-zero level and thick fogs envelop the forests reducing visibility in the area.
“We have received intelligence reports that the Maoists are planning to regain their ground in north Chhattisgarh regions bordering Jharkhand to open a new corridor between the two states. Security forces usually do not venture into the area in winter due to hostile climate”, the police officer said requesting anonymity.
According to him, after a long hibernation of almost half-a-decade since they were decimated in north Chhattisgarh, Naxals have again launched a move to enter the region. Reports reaching from several parts in the region said that the Naxals were trying to befriend with local tribals with various allurements. The locals have, however, so far spurned their overtures and even tipped the forces about their movements in the area.
Following this, over a dozen lower and middle ranked Naxals were arrested in the past couple of months. Several Naxal leaders, including a commander-level leader, have also surrendered before the police during the period after forces intensified stepped up pressure on them in the area.
“We have formulated a strategy to counter any move by the Naxals to expand their base in the northern border regions of Chhattisgarh in coming winter. We have decided to intensify anti-Naxal operations during the period with the help of modern gadgets to beat the hostile climate in the region”, Sarguja range inspector general of police Bharat Singh said.