Patna: A special task force (STF) jawan was seriously injured during a gun battle with Maoists in Lakhisarai district, around 135km northeast of Patna, on Friday.

The injured, identified as Piyush Kumar Nirala, was admitted to the Lakhisarai sadar hospital from where he was later referred to the Patna Medical College and Hospital for treatment.

The incident took place around 2pm when four teams - three from the police headquarters and one each from Jamui and Munger (Jamalpur) - were carrying out search operations in Bakura forest on the border of Lakhisarai and Jamui districts on Friday.

One of the teams was surrounded by the heavily armed squad of the outfit in the forest. In the crossfire, a bullet hit Piyush in his right chest and he fell to the ground.

Other policemen immediately took him out of the forest and sent him to Lakhisarai hospital for treatment after first aid.

Lakhisarai superintendent of police (SP) S.S. Thakur said some outfit squad members suffered injuries in the crossfire. They, however, managed to flee. "The police found bloodstains at the site," he told The Telegraph over phone.

The operation was launched on Wednesday on specific information about congregation of Maoists in the area under the jurisdiction of Kajra police station in Lakhisarai district.

"The combing operation was underway to trace Maoists engaged in the gunfire," the SP said. Around 100 Maoists from Jharkhand had taken shelter in Lakhisarai after the Jharkhand police launched a special drive.