Odia CRPF jawan martyred in Jharkhand during encounter with Maoists
By Akshaya Patnaik & Khetrabasi Mahakud
Keonjhar, Aug. 11: An Odia jawan serving in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed in an attack by the Maoist rebels in Jharkhand on Friday. The deceased Odia jawan was identified as Sushant Khuntia, a resident of Anandapur in Odisha’s Keonjhar district.
As per reports, an encounter broke out between security forces and the Maoists in which two jawans were initially injured. After the encounter, both the injured jawans were airlifted to Ranchi for better treatment. At the hospital one was declared dead, said Chaibasa Police.
Later, Khuntia, who sustained a bullet injury in his chest, succumbed while undergoing treatment. He was engaged with the CRPF since 2012.
The Maoists ambushed the jawans when they were returning from a combing operation.
Senior officials said that CRPF, Jharkhand Police, CoBRA, Jharkhand Jaguar, and other state forces are carrying out a drive against Maoists in the Kolhan area.
“In the past two days, we have gained huge successes as well. Two days ago in an encounter, a big camp of Maoists was destroyed. This encounter was mainly against the top Maoist Misir Besra,” AV Homkar, IG Operations said.
Homkar said, “During the drive when the team was going ahead, they had an encounter with the Maoists. In this CRPF constable, Sushant Kumar Khuntia and Munna Lal Yadav got injured. We evacuated them but sadly Sushant Kumar lost his life. Munna Lal at present is out of danger,” he added.
The martyred jawan had got married six months ago and his wife is now pregnant, his family sources said.
Shockingly, the slain jawan was the only male member of his family as two of his brothers had died early this year. His father had passed away two years ago.
