JOIN USThree security personnel died while three others sustained serious bullet injuries during a fierce encounter with the Maoists in Jharkhand, in the early hours of Tuesday. Six rebels were also killed.
An Indian Air Force chopper assigned to airlift the injured had to abort plan due to inclement weather. They were later flown to Ranchi in a BSF helicopter. One of the three personnel was learnt to be critical, with a bullet injury on the forehead. Acting on intelligence, a team of Jharkhand police and CRPF commandos launched an operation at 4:30 am. They claimed to have they met with an armed group of Maoists in the Judegaon area of Jharkhand’s Chatra district, abutting Gaya in Bihar.
Among the security personnel who died was a decorated deputy commandant of CRPC, who took three bullets. The CRPF Inspector General requested the Air Force base at Ranchi to send a chopper to evacuate the bleeding personnel. The MI-17 flew from Ranchi at 6:20 am but returned due to inclement weather, prompting the CRPF to seek the BSF’s help, which has a fleet of choppers and aircraft.
The BSF’s Dhruv helicopters flew to the area under the Pratappur police limits and returned with CRPF deputy commandant P R Mishra, constable Mukesh Bunkar and a Jhakhand Police personnel.
Security forces have previously complained that IAF was reluctant to carry out rescue operations in Chattisgarh.
An IAF spokesperson, however, contended that about a week ago, IAF had carried out rescue operations to safely airlift eight persons injured in anti-Maoist operation. “Within about 45 minutes of intimation, the chopper was airborne at 6:20 am from Ranchi to the target area despite marginal weather. But, the chopper decided to return after a point as it could not pierce the low clouds,” he stated.
Subsequently, the chopper was ready for a second attempt at 8:30 am. By then, the base was intimated that the services were no longer needed as the injured were airlifted by the BSF air wing, the IAF spokesperson said.