Saranda, Ap 16: Five jawans of the CoBRA battalion were injured in a fierce encounter with Maoists in the forests of Saranda, Chaibasa, Jharkhand, on Wednesday.
The clash erupted around 10 a.m. between security forces and Maoists in a forested area between Marang Ponga and Baliba villages under Chhota Nagra police station limits. The operation followed intelligence reports that wanted Maoist commander Misir Besra, along with his squad, was planning to relocate his camp.
A joint anti-insurgency team, including CoBRA, Jharkhand Jaguar, and district police, moved into the dense forest to intercept the group. Reports indicate the Maoists opened fire as the forces closed in, resulting in a prolonged gunfight. Security personnel returned fire and reportedly gained the upper hand during the encounter.
Sources suggest that at least four Maoists may have been killed and several others injured, though official confirmation has not been possible due to the challenging terrain and dense forest cover.
One injured CoBRA jawan was initially treated in Chaibasa and is being airlifted to Ranchi for advanced care. Other senior Maoist leaders, including Mochu, Sagen Angaria, and Ashwin, were believed to be present during the encounter.
Security forces have strengthened the cordon and launched an extensive search operation to locate fleeing Maoists and verify casualties.
