P Mishra
Giridih : A Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) Jawan of 203rd battalion was killed during an encounter with the CPI (Maoist) at Pathalgarhwa forests under Madhuban police station in Giridih district, Jharkhand, early on Friday morning. The security forces had a tip off regarding sudden intrusion of about 30 – 35 armed Maoists in Pathalgarhwa and adjoining forest areas. Meanwhile, three teams of security personnel each led by senior officials visited the dense forests and terrains.
“As soon as the ultras saw the security personnel, they opened indiscriminate firing on them. The security personnel strongly retaliated the Maoists but taking advantage of dense forests and terrains, the ultras managed to escape from the spot. One of the CoBRA personnel, who had received serious bullet injuries in right portions of his jaw, succumbed to his injuries before he could be provided treatments,” said DSP Vijay Ashish Kujur.
“The operation team entered the forest areas around 4 am and returned after the encounter at 6 am. Although, we witnessed three sporadic firing within one- and -half -hours, but encounter between the security forces and the Maoists ended within 30 minutes,” said the ASP (Operations) Kunal Kumar adding that about a dozen of women were also with the Maoists.
The senior district and security authorities including Deputy Commissioner, Umashankar Singh, CRPF Commandant Devendra Singh, ASP Kunal, DSP RK Mehta along with others paid tribute to the slain CoBRA jawan before sending his dead body to his native place in Assam.