Jharkhand: Maoist blasts kill 1 jawan, injure 14

One security personnel was killed and 14 injured in multiple landmine explosions by Maoists on Monday afternoon in Giridih district, around 250km from Ranchi.

One security personnel was killed and 14 injured in multiple landmine explosions by Maoists on Monday afternoon in Giridih district, around 250km from Ranchi.

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The jawan was part of the team conducting an operation at Tuyo panchayat to rescue four government officials, abducted by CPI (Maoist) cadres on Saturday night. The rebels triggered improvised explosive devices (IEDs), said Giridih SP Kranti Kumar.

A gun battle between the security forces and Maoists was on till the filing of this report.

The security forces comprise Giridih district police, Jharkhand Jaguars and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

“One of our men was killed,” confirmed DGP Rajeev Kumar, who led the rescue operation.

Giridih deputy commissioner D Purwa Lakra further confirmed that 14 jawans had suffered serious splinter and bullet injuries in the ambush followed by a fierce gun battle.

“The injured will be airlifted to Ranchi for treatment,” said Lakra.

On Saturday night, Maoists had abducted four rural development employees, including Prime Minister Rural Development Fellow Sai Vardhan Vamsi of Andhra Pradesh. The other three abductees are Chandradev Kumar, Shambhu Pandey and Maqsood Alam.

The driver of the employees’ vehicle, Rajendra Yadav, who was released by Maoists on the same night, said 14 rebels had initially planned to abduct the DC.

“After questioning us about the DC, the Maoists abducted us,” Yadav said.