As the security forces stepped up anti-Maoist operation in Jharkhand ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, three securitymen and a civilian driver were injured in violence and nine suspected Maoists were arrested in separate districts of Jharkhand today.
"Murhu police station in-charge P K Jha, a constable and the civilian driver were going in a car to Potna village in Khunti district when the vehicle ran over a landmine, injuring the them," Khunti Superintendent of Police Anish Gupta told PTI.
"The injured were out of danger. It appears People's Liberation Front of India ultras were behind it," he added.
DIG Praveen Kumar Singh had earlier said all the injured were policemen.
In the second incident, security forces clashed with a group headed by former Maoist, Krishna Bhuyan alias Krishna Dehati, at Khetrawarpahar in Garhwa district, exchanging gunfire for about two hours from 4 AM.
"A jawan of Jharkhand Armed Police, Abdul Satar, suffered bullet injury in his neck. He is admitted to a private hospital in Ranchi," Garhwa SP S K Jha said.
Claiming that at least one Maoist from the group had suffered bullet injuries during the operation, the SP said the former Maoist had formed his own group and was engaged in extortion.
In another incident, CRPF personnel and Maoist ultras exchanged gunfire in the dense forest of Lugupahar near Jhumra Hill under Lalpania police station, IG (Bokaro) Laxman Prasad Singh said.
"There was no casualty on any side," he said.
Jamshedpur SP Madan Mohan Lal said nine suspected Maoists, including four women, were caught last night by security personnel during an operation in Maoist-affected Dalma hill area in under Chandil police station of Seraikela-Kharswan district.
