RANCHI: Security personnel shot dead a Maoist on Wednesday morning, hours after six Jharkhand Jaguar (JJ) men died in an attack by Communist rebels in Garhwa district.Police said the Maoist died in an encounter that took place when the security personnel were launching an operation against those involved in the killing of the jawans late on Tuesday. “The encounter lasted two hours,” CRPF deputy commandant P C Badal said, adding, “The Maoists were in a huge group and managed to run away.”The encounter took place at Khaprimahua under Bhandaria police station in Garhwa district. One INSAS rifle was found near the body of the Maoist after the operation that was carried out by CoBRA and JJ personnel.On Tuesday, six security personnel died and four others were injured when the Maoists triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) at Khaprimahua close to the Latehar-Garwha border.Chief minister Raghubar Das paid homage to senior commander Krishna Prasad Niyupane, constable Kundan Kumar Singh, constable Parmanand Choudhary, constable Ajay Kujur, constable Deo Kumar Mahto and constable Ajit Odiya who died in the attack. Earlier he, in a tweet, said, “The naxalites had perpetrated a cowardly attack on our jawans. The martyrdom of six jawans is sorrowful. We will root out naxalism in Jharkhand and this will be the true tribute to the martyrs.”The four injured security personnel — ASI Subhas Chandra Singh, constable Ali Ashraf Khan, constable Jonny Toppo and constable Arvind Oraon — were brought to Ranchi for treatment in a helicopter on Wednesday. Jharkhand Police spokesperson Ashish Batra said rescue teams took a lot of time to bring the injured to the state capital because they had to move slowly and cautiously to avoid hitting landmine planted by Maoists on the way.DGP D K Pandey and other police officers visited the jawans in hospital. The DGP said , “Our fight to clear Burha Pahar of the Maoists is on. People from other states have come to disturb peace here.”Police sources claim that Sudhakar Reddy , a senior Maoist leader, is holed up in the area.

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