Three security personnel were injured as CPI-Maoist rebels triggered series of IED blasts near a dam construction site under Kharsawan police station area in Seraikela-Kharsawan district on Monday morning.
Soon after series of blasts triggered by the rebels along the Suru-Kharsawan Road near the under-construction Suru dam, police launched attack against the rebels at Hiragada jungle.
According to police, while a patrolling party comprising Special Assault Force (SAF) was negotiating the Suru-Kharsawan road, the rebels detonated the IEDs.
“As per our information more than 21 IEDs were planted along the road and these all went off as the patrolling party was crossing the road. Though the IED were of low intensity, three SAF jawans were injured in the splinters of the IED explosion," said a police official.
Those injured were identified as Krishna Kudada, Hareram Singh and Makhan Singh. Kudada who sustained serious injuries was rushed to RIMS by a chopper, whereas two others were released after first-aid.
According to police, the naxal attack was carried out by Mahraj Pramanik's squad of the CPI-Maoist and about 15 rebels were involved in the attack. The police said after triggering the IED blast the naxals went over to the adjoining Hundarguda jungle where there was an encounter with the police as well as CRPF contingent.
As the news spread Seraikela-Kharsawan SP, Chandan Sinha rushed to the spot of IED blast. On the other hand sensing trouble sub-divisional police officer, Seraikela, Abinas Kumar launched a search operation at the Hundarguda jungle where the police had encounter with the police.
“Soon after the blast there was an encounter between the naxals and paramilitary forces at Hundarguda jungle after the former had triggered serial blasts on a road near an underconstruction dam site," said the SP.
Kumar said three jawans were injured, one of them was serious. He confirmed that the jawan who sustained serious injury caused by the splinters of the IED has been airlifted to RIMS, Ranchi.
Meanwhile, the administration has increased police patrolling on the bordering areas connecting to West Bengal and has also deployed adequate number of paramilitary personnel on areas potential to rebels attack.
” Every effort will be made to maintain law and order and to ensure security of the people. This time all security forces have also been alerted to remain vigilant, particularly against IEDs and landmines," said another official.
Sources informed that the mobility of the police has prevented the extremists from carrying out any violent activity in past few days in the entire Kolhan.
All the police stations in the three districts of the division including East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela Kharswan have been asked to beef up the security and keep a vigil at the bordering areas.
