Rourkela: Activists of the People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), considered a splinter group of CPI-Maoist, are on the verge of extermination and the organisation would soon become history, according to intelligence inputs.
With a reduced area of operation, the outfit now aims to extort money from mine owners and traders in Sundargarh district for its survival, Rourkela superintendent of police Umashankar Dash Tuesday said, adding, the organisation has no ideology.
Police suspected that PLFI chief Dinesh Gope sustained bullet injuries during a combing operation by the police in the border region. While five PLFI members were killed in the operation, several others sustained injuries, police said.
It was evident from the blood stains during the search operation that the injured were dragged into the forest after sustaining bullet injuries. Similarly, 13 more rebels were arrested Sunday and Monday while a huge cache of arms was seized from them.
SP Dash said the PLFI members are involved in dacoity and loot. They even enter the houses of some affluent people in broad daylight and loot them at gun point. Koida mining region in Sundargarh district was worst affected by their operation, Dash added.
A PLFI member, who was active in the city and on its outskirts, was arrested last month. He admitted to his involvement in several criminal incidents under Rourkela police division. This apart, some criminals in the guise of PLFI members, put up posters at several places and extort money from the rich, the SP said.
Sundargarh SP Pinak Mishra said the left wing extremists (LWEs) mostly target industrialists along with petrol pump owners and big business houses. They are still active in Biramitrapur, Raebaga and Koida areas, he said.
The LWEs first ask for money over telephone or through letters and later, they resort to threatening and even go on to destroy the industries if the pressure tactics fail to work. While some industrialists give in, a few others refuse them, SP Mishra said, adding, the police are active to arrest the wrongdoers. PNN