A Maoist and a jawan of the state armed police (SAP) were killed in a violent encounter between the rebels and the joint security forces which lasted over six hours in Jhargram in West Midnapore on Sunday. The body of the rebel was recovered. At least two more rebels may have been critically injured in the encounter, the police said.
The deceased jawan, Ishraful Islam, 27, of Manickchowk of Malda, belonged to the Specially Trained Armed Company (STRACO) of the SAP, which is deployed to tackle the Left-wing ultras in the Jangalmahal. Two more personnel of the force received bullet injuries in the incident. They have been admitted to the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital.
“We are recommending Ishraful’s name to the Centre for the Gallantry Award. He was given the guard of honour,” said inspector general (Western Zone) Zulfiquar Hasan.
The ambush began early on Sunday when the forces comprising of the CRPF, STRACO force and police personnel went to Ghritakham village near the Kalaboni forest in search of the Maoists at around 3.30 am. The police had received a tipoff that the rebels had taken shelter there. “As we started condoning off the village, within 15 minutes the Maoists opened firing on us,” superintendent of police (Jhargram) Praveen Kumar Tripathy said. There were nearly eight armed members of the mass militia formed by the Maoists, official sources revealed. The STRACO force jawans, who were on the front, retaliated. Ishraful who was among them received fatal injuries. On way to the hospital, he died.
The gunbattle in a close range continued till 5.30 am. In the morning, it resumed again for four hours. “Two more rebels were critically injured and were taken away by other rebels. A single-barrel gun, 38 round of empty cartridges and four lives ones were recovered,” Mr Tripathy said. Besides some blood stain clothes were also recovered from the embattled area which suggest that the casualties of the rebels were higher.