A jawan of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) today sustained injuries during a gun battle between security forces and extremists in latehar district. The jawan named Vikesh Kumar has been admitted to Medica Hospital in Ranchi and is stated to be out of danger said the accompanying police officer Sanoj Chowdhury, who is the OC Herhunj Police Station in latehar district.
Chowdhury said this IRB jawan was hurt in an exchange of fire between security forces and a contingent of the extremists at Hundi Nawar forest located on the border of Herhunj Balumath. IRB jawan was hurt in his back.
A chopper of the State police air lifted him and brought him to Ranchi.
Chowdhury said the encounter broke out around 2 am on the night of Monday which lasted for three hours intermittently.
Sources said there was a tip off about the assemblage of extremists in this forest and accordingly under command of SP latehar Dhananjay K Singh security forces comprising JAP, IRB and DAP latehar reached the forest where the extremists opened fire first.
Although the identity of the extremists is yet to be established, sources said that group could be of TPC ultras, who are active in the area.