At least three CPI(Maoists) cadres have been gunned down by the security forces on Monday during an encounter in Hazaribagh. The police sources said that the dead bodies have also been recovered along with three arms — one SlR, one INSAS and a 303 Rifle from the spot. The bodies, however, are yet to be identified by the police.
Police sources said that special operation was being conducted by the CRPF in the jungles of Bukar village under Chauparan police station during which the gun battle took place between the two sides.
“Three bodies of CPI(Maoists) have been recovered till now. It is very a rare occasion that the bodies of rebels have been recovered during or after an encounter,” said a senior police official in Ranchi. The official release from the police headquarters asserted that huge quantity of explosives and landmines has also been recovered along with several solar panels and ammunitions from the encounter site.
Following the incident, special teams were constituted headed by Barhi DSP Avinash Kumar along with the JAP and CRPF with an instruction to encircle the forest from all three sides of the district. Gaya police was also informed about it and was requested to be alert on their side.
In the morning the teams started encircling the forest from three sides and spotted the rebels at about 10 am following which fierce gun battle started and after an hour of exchange of fire they receded inside the jungles leaving behind the bodies along with the their weapons, cartridges.
During the clash, SP Hazaribagh Akhilesh Jha and CRPF Commandant Munna Kumar Singh also entered into the forest. Intensive search operations were launched following the incident which was continued till the filing of this report.