Chaibasa, Jharkhand ,August 13(HS): Security forces in Jharkhand’s insurgency-hit West Singhbhum district have killed a Naxalite in a fierce gun battle, recovering a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) from the site, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The exchange of fire is still underway near Sauta in the dense, hilly terrain under Goilkera police station limits.
According to IG (Operations) Dr. Michael Raj, the operation has inflicted casualties on the Naxal side, though exact numbers are yet to be confirmed. “The search and combing effort is continuing,” he stated, indicating that forces remain engaged in the area.
The clash erupted early in the morning when Naxalite insurgents opened fire after spotting an advancing joint team of Jharkhand Police and CRPF. The security personnel swiftly retaliated with heavy firepower, leading to the death of one militant whose body has been retrieved.
Authorities have been conducting sustained anti-Naxal search operations across the district in recent weeks, targeting forested and mountainous hideouts used by the insurgents. The latest encounter underscores the ongoing high-stakes battle between security forces and Maoist rebels in Jharkhand’s most volatile zones.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
