CoBRA jawan killed in Maoist encounter in Jharkhand

RANCHI: A CoBRA jawan Balan Harijan, 32, was killed in an encounter with Maoists on Friday morning at the foothills of Parasnath hills under Pirtand police station of Giridih, 250km from here.
DIG Hazaribag Upendra Prasad said none of the other jawans were hurt in the gun-battle which continued for nearly one hour.
The operation was launched early on Friday morning to target Maoist leaders reportedly holding a meeting in the forests.The security personnel were advancing towards the target point when a bullet from an unlocated place behind the dense forests hit the CoBRA jawan leading from the front.
“The bullet blew out of the middle of his face leaving grievous injuries. Even a planned and timely rescue could not help the brave soldier, rushed to Giridih hospital by his colleagues,” a police officer said.
Trained in jungle warfare and anti-guerilla battle-craft, the martyr, who served CRPF for around a decade, hailed from Guwahati.
“Search and combing operation is on in the foothills. Additional forces have joined the combat, it will continue,” DIG said. Besides the elite CoBRA force, CRPF, Jharkhand Jaguar and district police personnel comprise the anti-Maoist operation team.
There is no confirmation yet of any ultra being killed in the encounter.
Among the Maoist strongholds, Pirtand is considered a tough area where the ultras enjoy strategic advantages. “Security personnel are in the line of fire of the Maoists who set up temporary camps on the small hills,” a police officer said.
The casualty has exposed the very weak grip police have on the security of Parasnath hills which houses Shikharji Jain temple, the world famous Jain pilgrimage site.
Three COBRA jawans were injured in April this year when Maoists detonated an IED (improvised explosive device) in the Parasnath hills to target a contingent of forces chasing them.
The development of villages situated in Parasnath hills occupies top slot on the government’s priority chart. CM Raghubar Das visited Parasnath in February with the promise of replacing fear with calmness and peace. A Parasnath action plan is on to tackle development challenges. However security concerns have put a question mark on the effective implementation of the programs.