Troops engage Naxal guerrillas in fierce firefight

Troops from the elite Cobra unit along with the police in Jharkhand state were locked in a gunbattle early Saturday when the security forces were on a search-and-destroy mission in the jungles of Majhgaon.

Chaibasa (Jharkhand):A gunbattle broke out between CRPF and PLFI Naxals in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district early on Saturday, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said.

According to police, the fighting broke out at 6 am when troops of 209 CoBRA unit and Jharkhand Police were on a search-and-destroy operation in Majhgaon.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Superintendent of Police Indrajit Mahtha said, "The District Police CRPF and Cobra 209 battalion personnel had an encounter with the banned Naxalite organization PLFI. In which hundreds of rounds were fired from both sides. The guerrillas managed to escape by taking advantage of the deep forest."

"At the same time, during the search operation by the police, an automatic AK 47 rifle, magazine, a dozen mobiles and other daily use materials were recovered from their hideouts. During that time hundreds of rounds were fired from both sides. But no casualty has been reported," he said.

"The organization which will try to obstruct the safety of the people and the development work of the government will be given a befitting reply," he added.

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