In an encounter with Naxals in Lugupahari, two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were injured on Wednesday night about 9:30 pm. Police seized arms and ammunition from the spot, said SP, Bokaro Chandan Kumar Jha.
The encounter took place in the forest near Lugupahari forest area near Tutijharna under Gomia block in Bokaro district about 50 km east of district headquarter and 120 km from the State capital when a joint team of CRPF and District police, SAT and Jharkhand Jaguar was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Jha said.
He said the patrolling team, comprising around 50 personnel of the CRPF, the District police, SAT and Jharkhand Jaguar forces had launched the operation on Wednesday night in the interiors of Gomia and Jageshwar Bihar police station areas.
On Wednesday night around 9 to 9:30 pm , when security forces were advancing through Lugupahari, around 50 km from Bokaro, a group of Naxals opened fire on them, leading to a gunfight, the SP said. He said Naxals fled when security forces retaliated.
"While one CRPF jawan identified as Satyendra Singh injured seriously in the incident while Vishnu Singh got minor injured," he said.
Reinforcement has been rushed; soon after incident to the spot and efforts are on to evacuate both the injured personnel, while Satyendra Singh was shifted to Medica hospital, Ranchi for his better treatment, the SP added.
According to SDPO, Bermo Satish Chandra Jha, one CRPF jawan has been shot in the stomach and the other in the chest. At the same time, several Naxals have also been reported injured. The injured Naxals have escaped leaving their weapons.
According to police officials, a massive search operation is underway to get hold of the Naxals. “After the search operation, we found traces of bloodstains at the spot of the encounter. We suspect that during the encounter some of the rebels who were trying to flee might have sustained injuries,” said the SP.
The security forces recovered a rifle made in Belgium, 15 cartridges with magazine, sleeping bags, water bottles, blankets, mats, literature besides other things.
Bermo SDPO, Satish Chandra Jha said the rebels fled taking advantage of the darkness. According to him, the recoveries were made during a search operation carried out after the operation.
