Jharkhand: Villager shot dead; security forces, Naxals exchange bullets

A villager was shot dead, allegedly by Maoists, in Giridih distict while security personnel exchanged fire with Naxals for the second day within Gurabandha police station limits in East Singhbhum district, police said on August 16. A group of four Naxals last night slit the throat of one villager, identified as Dinesh Manjhi, after they shot him dead in Markando village under Sasarkho Panchayat of Dumri police station in Naxal-affected Giridih district, a police officer said.

Officer-in-charge of the police station, Shyam Chandra Singh said the victim was linked to the Naxal group in the past. Police recovered leaflets from the spot accusing the victim of raising levy in the name of CPI (Maoists).

Meanwhile, security personnel, comprising CRPF, Cobra Battalion and District Armed Police force, exchanged fire for the second consecutive day with the Naxals at Teensomani village on Pouda Pahar under Gorabandha police station of Ghatsila sub-division of East Singhbhum district, Superintendent of Police (Rural), Md Arshi said.

Arshi said around 50/60 rounds of fire were exchanged between them before the Naxals, headed by Kanhu Munda, made a hasty retreat.

No casuality was reported in the encounter incident.

Today’s encounter succeeded a similar battle of bullets between security forces and Naxals on Monday at Barakocha under the same Gurabandha police station when a Naxal camp was razed to the ground.

Among other things, security personnel had recovered 50 detonators on Monday.