Maoists on Sunday ambushed a patrolling party at Etabalka in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, injuring two jawans of BSF, the police said.
According to the police, a road opening party comprising BSF jawans and police was on its way in Koilibeda police station area, when armed ultras atop hillocks in the Etabalka jungle suddenly opened fire at them. The security personnel retaliated. The encounter lasted nearly two hours.
“At least two BSF jawans received bullet injuries in the gunbattle. They were airlifted from ground zero by an Indian Air Force helicopter for medical attention. No other casualty has been reported in the incident,” Kirtan Rathore, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Antagarh, said.
Reinforcement was rushed to the attack site, where the security personnel recovered four live bombs, he added.
The rebels disappeared into the forest when they noticed additional forces landing at the encounter site. The police sources said at least 30-40 ultras were tracking the movement of the patrolling team since morning. The ultras waited for them to reach foot of a hillock and sprayed bullets at them from the high mounds.
“The BSF troopers were caught unaware by the Maoist ambush. But they immediately regrouped to retaliate and repulse the attack,” Mr Rathore said.