Jawan killed, four injured in anti-Naxal operation

A paramilitary personnel was killed and four were injured during an encounter between the Sashastra Seema Bal and Maoists in Dumka district of Jharkhand on Sunday. Few Maoists were hit by bullets as they retreated into the forest, said the police.

The gunbattle started around 3.45 am when an SSB team was carrying out a search in the forest of Taldangal in the district, said Superintendent of Police YS Ramesh.

Niraj Chetry, who hailed from Sonitpur district in Assam, fell to the Naxals' bullets, while one jawan, identified as Rajesh Roy, suffered serious injuries, said Ramesh. Roy was airlifted to Ranchi. Three other wounded personnel are being treated at Dumka Sadar hospital.

The SSB has also launched an operation to track down the Maoists, who are hiding in the jungle.

On May 28, Maoists had triggered a series of blasts in Seraikela-Kharsawan district of Jharkhand that injured 26 security personnel.