Three rebels, including a woman from the People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) died, and another was injured during a gun battle with security forces at Tabo valley in West Singhbhum on Thursday morning.
Among the deceased, the identity of only Moti a.k.a. Uncle could be established so far.
Police and paramilitary personnel have recovered an AK-47 rifle from the spot.
Kolhan deputy inspector general of police (DIG) Rajiv Ranjan Singh said an anti-insurgency operation was launched following inputs that a PLFI squad of around 15 rebels had assembled at Tabo valley on Wednesday.
“Security forces that started a search operation at the valley at dawn were greeted with a hail of bullets. Security personnel retaliated, prompting the rebels to retreat. A combing operation yielded three bullet-riddled bodies and the assault rifle from the spot,” Singh said.
DIG Singh, who visited the site later, pointed out that one of the PLFI members had sustained gunshot injury.
“The cops found a seriously injured rebel at the site later. One of the CRPF jawans carried the rebel on his shoulder and walked miles to reach the police vehicles. The injured rebel was rushed to a Chakradharpur hospital and administered first-aid, and later shifted to the Chaibasa Sadar Hospital,” Singh added.
According to Singh, the PLFI squad was being led by Ajay Purty.
“We suspect that Ajay Purty, who was present at the spot during the gun battle, has also been injured, but he managed to flee. We are looking for him,” he said.