In a fierce encounter, police and paramilitary forces killed three members of People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) and injuring another at an encounter taken place in Tabo Valley under the same police station area in West Singhbhum district on Thursday morning. The police and paramilitary have recovered an AK47 rifle from the scene of the encounter.

Those killed in the encounter include a woman rebel whose identity could not be ascertained yet.  The identity of one of the killed rebels has been established and he was known as Moti alias Uncle.  The third body is yet to be identified.

Deputy inspector general of police, Kolhan, Rajiv Ranjan Singh said that acting on a tip off the police and paramilitary forces launched an anti-insurgency operation at the Tabo valley that a squad of PLFI was assembled at Tabo valley since Wednesday.

“Acting on a clue, police and paramilitary forces started a search operation at the valley at dawn and as the forces were busy in carrying out the operation, they were attacked with gun shots.  Soon the paramilitary forces replied the shots causing the rebels to give a retreat.  But after the rebels who were about 15 in numbers had fled, the police and paramilitary started a combing operation during which they found three bullet ridden bodies and the assault rifle from the spot,” said the DIG (Kolhan).

Singh who had also visited the site of the encounter later on pointed out that in the encounter one of the PLFI members had sustained gun-shot injury.

“ During the search the police found one of the rebels lying injured.  As he had sustained gun-shot injury and was in a serious condition, one of the CRPF jawans carried the injured rebel on his shoulder where the police vehicles parked.  The police got the injured rebel to a Chakradharpur hospital where he was administered first-aid and later shifted him to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital,” Singh said.

He said the identity of the injured rebels is verified and he is now out of danger. According to the senior  police officer, the PLFI squad which was at the Tebo valley was being led by Ajay Purty.

“As per our information we suspect Ajay Purty who was present at the spot during the encounter has also sustained gun-shot injury, but he has managed to flee the spot.  We are searching for the PLFI leader,” he said

The police and paramilitary forces have beefed up the naxal infested areas of West Singhbhum district. Sources informed that the police are frisking commuters in the bordering areas.

 At some places common people are also being interrogated by police and paramilitary force on suspicion. Forces have been deployed in strategic locations.

 The district police have maintained that combing operation in the Maoist infested areas of the district will continue as usual and there is no let up whatsoever.