Trucks wait in a queue on NH-33 between Jamshedpur and Ghatshila on the second day of the Naxalite bandh call. Picture by Bhola Prasad; (Above) Satish Kumar Ohdar. Picture by Srinivas

Satish Kumar Ohdar, a 30-year-old police jawan and driver of an anti-landmine vehicle, sustained bullet injuries on his neck during an encounter with Naxalites at Taimara under Bundu police station early on Tuesday. Ohdar is recuperating at the post-operative ward of Tata Main Hospital in Jamshedpur. He speaks to Kumud Jenamani about his experience

We were 10 in all in the anti-landmine vehicle, including K.K. Jha, the officer in-charge of Bundu police station. We were called to escort a convoy of vehicles between Bundu and Raisa, a 17km stretch on National Highway-33.

It was about 12.15am when we reached a spot between Taimara and Raisa where we saw two trucks set ablaze. I was steering the anti-landmine vehicle. On the instruction of the officer in-charge, I took the vehicle closer to the burning trucks. We were about a hundred metres away from them. It seemed that there was no one around the spot. But the highway was blocked ahead and I had to take a turn.

Our strategy was to go back towards Bundu, and if we came across the rebels, then we would give them a befitting reply. As we were in the anti-landmine vehicle, we felt safe.

While I was about to take the turn, we heard a sound of gun shots. The jawans inside the vehicle were on high alert, ready to take on the rebels.

The sound of gun shots became more deafening. Shots were raining from both directions.

On being fired upon so vigorously, we realised that a sizeable number of Maoists might have been hiding in the area. As it was completely dark and we did not have any equipment for night vision, we could not get a direct view of the rebels, but we were able to estimate the rebels’ presence and responded to the firing.

I told the officer-in-charge that we would be able to cross the firing line soon and thus we continued retaliating.

I had hardly covered a hundred metres that there was a scream from one of the police jawans.

Only seconds later, I had too, been hit by a splinter or a pellet on my neck and left ear. Sukhdev Oraon, who was sitting towards the end of the vehicle sustained a bullet injury. The same bullet hit me. I was lucky to escape death.

We immediately discovered that the injuries were caused by a stray bullet that had pierced through the thick metal cover of the anti-landmine vehicle. There was a one-inch thick hole on the surface of the anti-landmine vehicle, which was considered to be bullet proof.

We were all shocked. Contrary to our belief, we realised that we were not safe inside. The jawans started retaliating and fired as many as 40 rounds, as we moved at a slow pace towards Bundu police station.

I was bleeding profusely, but I still continued to drive till we reached the police station.

While crossing Taimar, I spotted a vehicle (Tavera), which was coming from the opposite direction. I signalled the car to stop. But nothing like that happened. I saw the car crossing our anti-landmine vehicle.

This morning, I learnt from my colleagues, that the vehicle was also set on fire at the same spot where the two trucks were set ablaze.

Later, my colleague and I were rushed to the hospital. It was near-death encounter.