Five naxals killed in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, Feb 14 : At least five naxalites, including two women, were killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur District today.

According to a CRPF spokesperson the incident took place in the district's Baiparmada village this morning following a raid by a joint team of the CRPF and the local police.

Four rifles and a pistol were recovered from those killed.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who had reviewed the Naxal situation in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, was informed about the steps being taken by the State Governments to deal with the threat.

Patil has accepted the request of the Jharkhand Government to provide an additional five companies of paramilitary forces for the required period.

Patil, however, asked the State Government to make use of the paramilitary forces for operational purposes and not for normal law and order or static guard duties.

The Central Government has already provided five battalions of paramilitary forces to Jharkhand.

The Home Minister expressed satisfaction at some successful anti-Naxalite operations carried out recently, and emphasized the need to follow a pro-active strategy in the State.

ANI