Ranchi, May 17: Security forces exchanged gunfire with suspected Maoist rebels in a forested area of eastern Jharkhand state on Saturday, officials said, in the latest clash amid ongoing anti-insurgency operations in the region.
The encounter took place near Jaspur village in Palamu district’s Manatu area after police received intelligence about the presence of members of the Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), a breakaway faction of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), security officials said.
“As soon as our personnel approached the location, they came under fire from the rebels. Our forces retaliated, and the exchange lasted for about 30 minutes,” said a senior police officer.
There were no immediate reports of casualties on either side. The insurgents eventually fled into the dense forest, police said.
A search operation launched after the gunfight led to the recovery of several Maoist-related items, including literature and other materials, officials added.
Jharkhand is among several Indian states affected by a decades-long Maoist insurgency, with rebels often targeting security forces and infrastructure in rural and forested areas. The government has stepped up operations in recent years to root out armed groups operating in the so-called “Red Corridor”.
