Gumla: Two policemen were injured when Maoists triggered an IED blast and ambushed them at Shahighat near the Sereng bauxite mines police picket under Senha police station of Lohardaga district on Friday afternoon. A fierce encounter soon followed and continued till late in the evening but there was no report of casualty or injuries from the rebels’ side.
Lohardaga SP Priyanka Meena, who rushed to the spot soon after getting information about the ambush, said, “We have safely evacuated the injured personnel identified as Upendra Singh of Lohardaga district police and Arbind Pande from the state’s Small Action Team (SAT) and they have been taken to Ranchi for treatment. These personnel sustained bullet injuries during the encounter.”
Meena said the Reds must have suffered some losses as police recovered uniform components like caps worn by their leaders.
The incident happened when a combined police team went after the Maoists on foot around 1.30 pm. The rebels exploded the IED planted earlier. Before the personnel could take up position, they were fired upon but retaliated on time. Reinforcements were also sent from the Gumla district.
Sources said the Maoists were led by their regional commander Ravindra Ganjhu, who is active in Lohardaga and the forested areas of neighbouring Gumla district for the last few years.
Talking to TOI, DIG (Ranchi range) Akhilesh Kumar Jha said, “There is so far no input about any casualty or injury on the Maoists’ side. They fled after our forces retaliated.”