Jharkhand: Tragic Errors, Sustained Consolidation

Feb 01, 2016, at 09:42 pm

At least seven Jharkhand State Policemen were killed and another six sustained injuries when Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres attacked a Security Forces (SFs) convoy near Kasiyar village under the Chhatarpur Police Station area of Palamu District on January 27, 2016. After conducting a combing operation in the Kalapahar area of the District, the SFs were returning to their Hussainabad base camp, when one of the vehicles (TATA-407 mini truck) carrying 13 Policemen hit a landmine while crossing a Kutcha Road (dirt track) and was about to reach the Hussainabad-Chhatarpur Main Road. Subsequently, the Maoists hiding nearby opened fire and attempted to loot Police weapons. Six Policemen aboard a Maruti Suzuki Gypsy that had safely passed the incident site a few minutes earlier heard the explosion and gun shots and returned to the incident site and fought the Maoists along with the injured Policemen. They were soon joined by a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) contingent which was also the part of the combing team. Though SF weapons were not looted, the Maoists managed to escape.