Four naxalites neutralized by CRPF's COBRA unit and Jharkhand Police

New Delhi, April 22

In a major breakthrough in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand, four Naxalites were killed in an encounter with CoBRA commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Lugu Hills of Lalpania area of Bokaro district.

The police informed that the exchange of fire began around 5:30 am during a joint operation conducted by the CRPF and the state police. 

The elite 209 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), the jungle warfare unit of the CRPF, led the assault. Troops recovered one self-loading rifle (SLR) and one INSAS rifle from the site.

DGP Jharkhand, Anurag Gupta stated that Vivek, a Maoist with a reward of Rs 1 crore, was among those killed. As of now, a total of 8 Naxal bodies have been recovered. 

The CRPF stated, "The Central Reserve Police Force, in a joint operation with state police, neutralised four naxals in an exchange of fire this morning in Lugu hills under Lalpania area of Jharkhand's Bokaro district. The troops have recovered one SLR and one INSAS rifle. No injury to troops reported as yet. Intermittent firing continues".

The encounter comes amid intensified security operations in Jharkhand’s Naxal-affected zones, including the Saranda, Podahat, and Kolhan forest belts. Since March 4, joint forces comprising Chaibasa Police, CoBRA battalions, Jharkhand Jaguar, and other CRPF units have launched a special coordinated offensive aimed at dismantling Naxal strongholds.

Few days ago on April 12, a Jharkhand Jaguar constable was killed and a CoBRA jawan critically injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in the dense Radhapora forest. The explosion was followed by heavy gunfire as the forces were acting on intelligence inputs regarding Naxal movement in the area.