"The fight is on. Increased intelligence (network), increased operational pressure and penetration into (Maoist hideouts) areas like Saryu, Cone (Latehar) and other areas, have declined Maoist violence," Jharkhand police chief G S Rath told PTI here today.
He, however, said that violence by the ultras of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a splinter ultra left group, has increased with the activists mostly killing civilians.
"The violence by PLFI has increased in Khunti, Ranchi, Simdega and Gumla. They have come out of Maoists (ranks) and joined the splinter groups indulging in extorting people and killing civilians," the DGP said.
Violence by the Tritiya Prastuti Committee, a splinter group of the Maoists, has marginally increased, he added.
Crediting professional training given to the security forces and heightened intelligence network has given the edge to the police in combating the Maoists, Rath said.
In all, 22 security personnel had died this year due to landmine explosions, the DGP said, indicating how the Maoists had retreated from direct confrontation with the security personnel. (More)
