Jharkhand: Cobra jawan injured in gunbattle with maoists

A security personnel was injured in an encounter between security forces and the CPI(Maoists) in Seraikela-Kharswan district Wednesday, a senior police officer said.

The security personnel were on its long-range patrolling in the Naxal affected areas when the Maoists started firing at them on the western side of Kuchai, said Superintendent of Police, Chandan Kumar Sinha said.

While two Maoists received bullet shot injuries, a havildar of the Cobra battalion also received bullet injury, the SP said adding that the injured havildar was air-lifted to Ranchi, where he was admitted in a hospital.

The condition of the injured havildar was stated to be stable and out of danger, he said.

The injured Maoists managed to escape along with other members of the squad, the SP said.

Around 150 rounds were fired by the security personnel during the encounter that lasted for over half an hour, he officer said adding that the Maoists made a hasty retreat under the mounting pressure from the security personnel.