Patna: Early on Friday, security personnel in Bihar’s West Champaran district killed four alleged Maoists. A top official of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) said that the operation which took place close to the India-Nepal border further led to the recovery of sophisticated weapons from a hideout.
According to Sanjay Kumar, Inspector General (IG), SSB, Patna, the firefight took place at around 4.45 am where one security personnel was injured by a bullet.
“We had received specific information about a group of Maoists hiding in the forest surrounding the Valmiki Tiger Reserve. Accordingly, an operation was planned to take the concerned police station in the loop, Lokeria in Bagaha,” the official told PTI over the phone.
Kumar said that the Maoist group was led by Ram Babu Sahni alias Rajan, who fled the scene. However, his deputy ‘Bipul’ and three others were shot in the encounter.
A search operation was underway to nab Sahni, the SSB official stated.
“The recoveries include an AK-56 rifle, three SLRs and a 0.303 rifle. Gunshots were fired by the Maoists and one of these hit the forearm of SSB jawan Rituraj; fortunately, he is out of danger,” Kumar added.
Meanwhile, in Munger district [which is several hundred kilometres away], alleged Maoists struck a village where they killed two people by slitting their throats, a police officer said.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Munger Range, Manu Maharaj, said that the deceased were identified as a 39-year-old Brijlal Tuddu, a reformed Naxalite, and fellow villager Arun Ray (36).
“The incident took place in Kharagpur police station area of Munger district late on Thursday. After killing the duo, the Naxals fled leaving behind hand-written pamphlets, accusing them of becoming police informers. Their bodies were dumped on a hill on the outskirts of a village,” the DIG added.