Jamshedpur, Feb 7: In a fierce encounter between paramilitary forces and CPI-Maoist rebels at the bordering areas of West Singhbhum, Khunti and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts under the West Singhbhum district on Sunday morning one CRPF jawan was injured.
The injured jawan identified as Nararyan Khetri (25) who is posted in the COBRA’s 209 battalion of CRPF sustained gun-shot injury in the shoulder and has been air-lifted to RIMS at Ranchi.
A senior police official said that the encounter took place while the police and paramilitary forces were carrying out a special operation at the bordering area of West Singhbhum, Khunti and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts.
“The encounter took place when the special operation of the police and paramilitary forces was going on in the stretch of Rolahatu and Lanji jungle which is located in a triangular point in Toklo police station area in West Singhbhum near the border of Khunti and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts since early on Sunday morning. The rebels started firing at the paramilitary forces,” he said.
The official said that in the encounter two rebels have also sustained bullet injuries, but the fellow rebels managed to take the injured rebels away while fleeing the spot.
The police have recovered ammunition, IEDs, and other daily used materials from the spot of encounter. He said the encounter lasted for about 30 minutes, but seeing a greater fire power from the paramilitary forces, the rebels fled the area, leaving their belongings including ammunition and also EIDs beside other materials.
The administration has increased police patrolling on the bordering areas connecting to West Bengal and has also deployed adequate numbers of paramilitary personnel on areas potential to rebels attack.
Sources informed that the police have decided to ensure strict vigil and deploy additional security forces in the fringe areas.
“Security has been beefed up in the area and they were keeping strict vigil on movement of the Naxalites. The plan is to keep a tab on the camps being operated by ultras,” said another official.