Jawan & Naxal injured in exchange of fire in C'garh

A Naxal and a CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) jawan were today injured during an encounter between security forces and ultras in the dense forest area in the insurgency-hit Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, police said.
The skirmish took place around 9 am in Jharamunigiya village forests under Bhairmgarh police station limits when a joint team of security personnel was on a counter-insurgency operation, Bijapur Superintendent of Police KL Dhruv told PTI.
The composite squad of CoBRA's 204thbattalion- a specialised unit of CRPF, Special Task Force (STF) and District Reserve Group (DRG) had launched the operation in the interiors of Bhairamgarh, around 450 kms away from the state capital, he said.

"When they were about to cross a river near Jharamunigiya, they came under heavy fire from a group of rebels, leading to a gunbattle between both the sides," he said.
However, rebels soon disappeared from the place, following which security forces found and held an injured naxalite, identified as Dasu Banjam, who had been hit by a bullet, the SP said.
"Besides, a constable identified as Rajnish Kumar, belonging to CoBRA 204thbattalion, sustained injury in his leg after heinadvertently stepped overspiketrap laid by Naxalite, during the face-off, he added.

Soon after getting informed, reinforcement was rushed to the spot and the injured jawan and naxal were admitted to local hospitals, the SP said adding that the condition of the jawan is said to be normal.

Banjam- a janmilitia member of Maoist, had surrendered before police four months ago, but had joined the outlawed outfit later.
His condition is also stated to be out of danger, the SP said.