Maoist-police encounter in Jharkhand

Giridih (Jharkhand), Feb 7 (PTI) An encounter betweensecurity personnel and CPI (Maoists) took place in Giridihdistrict hours before the Bharat bandh called by the ultras inprotest against price rise began last mid-night.

Superintendent of Police A B Homkar said, the policegot a tip off that Maoists have taken out a procession inBandh Panchayat under Pirtand police station asking people tomake the bandh a success.

The security personnel comprising of CRPF and districtpolice force then went to the spot and the ultras startedfiring indiscriminately.

However, none from the police camp were injured in theencounter that lasted for about an hour, he said.

Homkar said police fired 47 rounds while the Maoistsfired about 60 to 70 rounds before fleeing.

A tractor left behind by the Maoists has been seized.

The bandh evoked mixed response in Giridih district.

In Kolhan region comprising of East and West Singhbhumand Saraikela-Kharswan too, it was a mixed response with urbanpockets remaining unaffected by the bandh.

While majority of the shops and markets in naxalstronghold areas of Ghatsila, Chandil, Nimdih, Chowka,Manoharpur, Goilkera, Sonua, Bandgaon downed their shutter,commercial vehicles and long-distance buses did not ply.

Loading and unloading in private mining sector werealso hampered due to the bandh, he said.

A report from Bokaro said the security personnel haverecovered two powerful landmines from Jhumra Pahar jungle inBokaro district.

Police said the landmines planted on a kuchcha road inthe jungle to target security personnel were found duringpatrolling.