Combing operation intensified, six picked up for interrogation

Ranchi, June 27 (UNI) CRPF and special task force today intensified joint combing operation in and around thick jungles of Jhumra Pahad in Jharkhand's Bokaro following yesterday's more than seven-hour-long gun battle between banned CPI (Maoist) and security forces.

Six people had been picked up for interrogation in this connection.

Police told UNI that besides the six, one nabbed during last night's encounter was being interrogated now.

Police confirmed that a jawan was killed in the encounter and claimed that about 16 of the rebel camp were gunned down whose bodies were taken away by the ultras.

Yesterday, the attackers comprising more than 1000 came in four groups and surrounded the location, considered almost inaccessible to commoners till three years ago and started hurling grenades and opened indiscriminate fire at the security forces - 72 battalion of CRPF.

In the retaliatory attack, which saw exchange of about 12,000 rounds, the jawan in the Jhumra hill area was killed who was identified as Abhay Kumar Mishra of Gorakhpur.

The militants also damaged railway tracks at three places by triggering landmine blast.

According to police, the ultras attacked the camp of 72 batallion of CRPF with mortars and AK-47 rifles.

Later, the ultras fled the spot leaving 15 crude bombs, 200 cartridges and 15 hand grenades.

According to sources, the rebels also comprised cadres from Nepal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Tamilnadu and Jharkhand.

UNI PRS SJC SRS KP1728