CoBRA jawan, ASI killed in encounter

In a fierce encounter with the ultras, a CoBRA jawan and a police officer of State police were martyred at a mountain stretch under Kuchai police station area in Seraikela-Kharsawan district, bordering Khunti district, about 80 km away from here, early Thursday morning.

Those killed were identified as Utpal Radha (27), a jawan of the CoBRA's battalion No 209 and Banua Oraon (41), an Assistant Sub-inspector of police posted at the Kuchai police station.

The encounter took place at a mountain stretch called Munishir Gilua under Kuchai thana area at about 5.30 am. According to information, the naxal opened fire when a contingent of CoBRA's 209 battalion along with the troopers of Jharkhand Jaguar and CRPF were carrying out an anti-insurgency operation in the area.  "The combing operation had begun here from wee hours of the day. The para-military forces were combing the area in jungle while carrying out the operation.  As the forces were busy in combing operation, they were suddenly sprayed with bullets, leading them to run for the cover. Soon after, the paramilitary forces had retaliated by returning the fire," said a police official.

"We are investigating the incident. As per our information, the troops were carrying their routine work moving around the jungle, they were fired by the naxals from the top of the mountain, leading the troops to respond.  In the encounter, both the CoBRA jawan Utpal and the ASI Oraon were fatally injured. They were rescued and taken to Medica Hospital in Ranchi where they succumbed to their injuries," said spokesperson of Jharkhand police and IG Ashish Batra.

He said Utpal who was a native of Meghalaya was hit with a bullet in his head and had died first, but Oraon who had sustained bullet in the abdomen succumbed to injuries an hour later.

The search operation was started yesterday after getting intelligence inputs that about 120 rebels led by the outlawed CPI-Maoist central committee member Prashant Bose alias Kishanjee were in the area.

The police and para-military forces had carried out a combing operation at the Munishir Gilua stretch and dismantled a camp.

The administration has increased police patrolling on the bordering areas connecting to West Bengal and has also deployed adequate number of paramilitary personnel in areas potential to rebels attack.

All the police stations in the three districts of  the division, including East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan have been asked to beef up the security and keep a vigil at the bordering areas.