Cobra personnel injured in an encounter with Naxals

A Cobra security personnel from West Bengal sustained an injury during an encounter with naxals in the hills near Basadera on the Jharkhand-West Bengal border today, police said.

The incident happened during a joint anti-naxal operation carried out by Jharkhand and West Bengal police, police said.

The encounter with the naxals took place between 9 am and 10 am at Basadera jungles within limits of Ghatsila police station, said Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Ghatsila), Saneev Kumar Besra.

Asked whether there were any casualties, Besra said a West Bengal's Cobra security personnel sustained a minor injury during the encounter.

The encounter took place with a squad suspected to be led by wanted Maoists Sachin and Akash, he said adding that the rebels made a hasty retreat in view of the mounting pressure from the security personnel.
 

Meanwhile, a massive search operation was launched in the area, Besra added.