Agartala, Nov. 10: Despite being depleted in strength, following surrender and dwindling support base, the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) rebels have kept up their low-intensity offensive in the interior areas of the state.

During the past 24 hours, a tribal woman and her child were kidnapped and a CRPF jawan injured in a clash with NLFT rebels stalking the interior areas of Gandacherra subdivision in Dhalai district.

Police sources said that a group of 16 heavily-armed NLFT rebels kidnapped Anita Tripura and her child Subarna yesterday from remote Rabonpara area under Gandacherra police station.

After receiving the information a combined force of police and CRPF (111 battalion) jawans led by SDPO (Gandacherra) L. Darlong proceeded towards the Rabonpara and Hanumanpara areas, 45 km away from the subdivisional headquarters.

Sources said when the force reached a low-lying area between Rabonpara and Hanumanpara around 3.30 pm, militants perched atop an upland, opened fired. The jawans retaliated with heavy counter-fire.

After a 15-minute gun-battle, the militants retreated deeper into the jungles and after storming the NLFT hide-out, the force recovered the kidnapped duo unhurt. A large quantity of rice, rugs, dresses and papers were also recovered.

After being rescued Anita told the police that she and her child had been kidnapped because of her husband?s inability to pay ?tax? in cash or in kind to the rebel coffer.

In the course of the encounter, a CRPF jawan, P.A. Kandalal sustained a bullet wound on his right leg and was then rushed to an Agartala hospital. Sources said the injured jawan is out of danger.

The sources said special search operations to flush out militants from the state?s hilly interiors would continue.