A day after director general of police (DGP), Jharkhand, MV Rao ordered the police and paramilitary forces to intensify the combat against the naxals review meeting at Jamshedpur, a fierce encounter took place  with CPI-Maoist rebels at Rolahatu jungle under Kuchai police station area in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district on Wednesday morning. The encounter lasted for over an hour from 11.30,  no casualty was reported from either side.

 Rao had called upon the police and paramilitary forces in a review meeting at Jamshedpur to intensify the drive against the naxals so as to eliminate them from Kolhan comprising the twin districts of Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan.

Seraikela-Kharsawan superintendent of police, Mohammed Arshi said that the encounter took place between the naxal squad of Pratiram Majhi alias Anal and the paramilitary forces 209 COBRA battalion.

“The forces were carrying out a special operation against the ultras in the Roladih jungle, the rebels had started firing at the forces at about 11.30 am.  The paramilitary forces had also retaliated by firing shots.  The encounter lasted for over an hour, causing the naxals to give a retreat as the fire power of the paramilitary forces,” said Arshi.

The Seraikela-Kharsawan SP who was himself leading the paramilitary forces in the special operation said that they have started a combing operation after the encounter came to an end at about 12.45 pm.  There is no casualty on the side of the paramilitary forces, but whether the naxals had any casualty or not is yet to be ascertained.

After an encounter at Chaibasa and now at Kuchai, the security establishment of the State is on high alert with Jharkhand police jawans and CRPF personnel maintaining tight vigilance on the movement of the suspects.

All the police stations in the three districts of the division including East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela Kharswan are on alert and patrolling in these areas have been intensified.