At least two police personnel were injured during an encounter with CPI (Maoist) rebels at Shahighat locality under Serendag police station of Lohardaga district onFriday morning.

The place where the encounter took place is situated barely half km from Serengdag police station. Serengdag is worst hit by left wing extremism which the state government last year had claimed the area reclaimed from extremists.

Sources in the security agencies said that the involvement of an armed squad led by CPI(Maoist) sub-zonal commander Ravindra Ganjhu is suspected behind the attack. Seven police personnel were doing foot patrolling when rebels targeted them.

Rebels also triggered a landmine explosion on the main road besides opening fire on a police patrolling party to inflict maximum damage. Injured police personnel identified as Upendra Singh of Lohardaga police and Anjani Kumar Pandey of Special Auxiliary Police were airlifted to Ranchi for their treatment at Medica hospital.

So far, no casualty from either side and the loot and loss of fire weapon has been reported. It is said that Pandey sustained a bullet on his chest whereas Singh sustained a bullet injury on his thigh.

A constable Krishna Oraon had gone missing during the encounter but he safely reached the police station an hour after the encounter ended.

While the additional deployment of CRPF and district police has been done; a massive search operation also started. Since Serengad shares a border with Ghaghra police station of Gumla district; Gumla police too has started combing operations. 

The attack on the police force must have left Jharkhand Police worried since rebels planting landmines and targeting police in the close vicinity of police station indicates security lapse and intelligence failure.

Left wing extremists have once again targeted security forces after a lull of 11 months. Ravindra Ganjhu and his armed squad had gunned down three home guard jawans and an ASI ranked official of Latehar police on November 22 last year ahead of Assembly elections.