Ghatshila (Jharkhand):
The war against Naxals is nothing short of a war in some of the most inhospitable jungles in India.
"We will be going towards the Bengal-Jhankhand border to the mountains. You all know the terrain, and you must be careful. If you see any suspicious object you will report immediately to your senior. You will check bridges and roads and move accordingly," a Commandant of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said before beginning the operation.
The hunt for Maoists has begun in the forests that stretch from East Singbhum in Jharkhand to Purulia in West Bengal. Believed to be a key operational hub, the joint operation by inter-state police forces and the CRPF is trying to identify and destroy Maoist camps in the region.
"We have been able to destroy some of these camps, but we have to do a lot more," said Vikram Srivastav, Director General, CRPF.
Combing operations have intensified along the West Bengal-Jharkhand border; Naxal camps were attacked and a great deal of ammunition recovered. But the terrain is treacherous, and mountains and thick jungles make the task extremely difficult for security forces.
It's only mid-March, but the Sun is already beating down hard. Trees have begun to shed leaves, which makes it impossible for search parties to remain invisible. Most of the hideouts are deep inside the jungle, with no approach roads. Jawans have to trek long distances and cross rivers to reach there.
Strangers to the area, there is little local support for the men in uniform - an advantage the Maoists have.
"We are facing a lot of difficulties. We don't know why the forces are here. They are roaming around, entering villages and we are afraid who will be picked up and questioned," said a worried villager.
He also admitted that there is fear among villagers.
The forces have limited options. Apart from fighting an unknown enemy, their own bases have bare minimum facilities, and not enough security.
So far, none of this has marred the motivation of the jawans. But with the fight against Maoists set for the long haul, that may not be enough to sustain the forces.