The Purulia police intensified the operation in the area following the arrest of Nandakumar alias Ananda Kumar, area commander of Maoist outfits, along with five of his aides from the Ayodhya Hills on Wednesday.

Rajesh Yadav, the Superintendent of Police, Purulia, said the operation was on in the Hills but he did not want to divulge the details of the action. According to an officer, the police are continuing with their combing to trace the Maoist camps. The Maoists have fled the bases to avoid encounters.

Yadav said Nandakumar furnished valuable information on Maoist activities in the Ayodhya Hills.

According to a source in the intelligence department, he disclosed the names of the Maoists and areas where they have set up bases. These the areas the district police, along with the CRPF and Cobra forces, are focussing on. According to an officer, the villagers who are fleeing, were pressurised by Maoists into providing shelter and funds, and now fear police action. The people, mostly tribals, belong to Saramchaki, Daska, Simulbera and Ranga villages.