The security forces deployed to take on Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district have found mosquitoes as their new enemies.
While malaria has already claimed life of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan, half a dozen others are battling for life after being hit by the mosquito borne disease, officials said.
54-year-old Puran Singh, who was a trooper of 223 battalion of the CRPF, succumbed to the disease on Tuesday morning. A native of Haryana, Singh was suffering from malaria for past several days.
He had been sent to medical college and hospital at Raipur on Oct 31 after test confirmed he was having malaria. He was battling life for several days in critical condition.
It is not the first time that a paramilitary trooper was detected positive for the mosquito borne disease. Such incidents have almost become common.
Four such troopers were sent to the same hospital from Sukma area on Oct 23 after they detected positive for the Malaria. They were discharged from the hospital on Thursday in good health after several days of treatment.
According to the troopers, they spend nights mostly in the forest and often don’t get pure drinking water. They also often drink water which are not fit for consumption.
The jawans said they are capable of fighting the left wing extremists but they conceded defeat in their battle against mosquitoes.