CRPF-CoBRA Joint Operation Kills Four Naxals in Lugu Hills, Arms Recovered Amid Ongoing Firing
Four Naxals were killed in a joint CRPF-CoBRA operation in Jharkhand’s Lugu Hills, Bokaro district. Weapons were recovered, and intermittent firing with insurgents is ongoing.
In a major breakthrough in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand, four Naxalites were killed early Monday morning in an encounter with CoBRA commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Lugu Hills of Lalpania area, Bokaro district.
According to officials, the exchange of fire began around 5:30 am during a joint operation conducted by the CRPF and the state police. The elite 209 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), the jungle warfare unit of the CRPF, led the assault. Troops recovered one self-loading rifle (SLR) and one INSAS rifle from the site.
"The Central Reserve Police Force, in a joint operation with state police, neutralised four naxals in an exchange of fire this morning in Lugu hills under Lalpania area of Jharkhand's Bokaro district. The troops have recovered one SLR and one INSAS rifle. No injury to troops reported as yet. Intermittent firing continues," the CRPF stated.
In a recent update from the ongoing encounter between security forces and Naxalites, Vivek, a Maoist with a reward of Rs 1 crore, was among those killed. As of now, a total of 8 Naxal bodies have been recovered, according to the Director General of Police (DGP) of Jharkhand.
The encounter comes amid intensified security operations in Jharkhand’s Naxal-affected zones, including the Saranda, Podahat, and Kolhan forest belts. Since March 4, joint forces comprising Chaibasa Police, CoBRA battalions, Jharkhand Jaguar, and other CRPF units have launched a special coordinated offensive aimed at dismantling Naxal strongholds.
The ongoing operation follows a deadly ambush on April 12, when a Jharkhand Jaguar constable was killed and a CoBRA jawan critically injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in the dense Radhapora forest. The explosion was followed by heavy gunfire as the forces were acting on intelligence inputs regarding Naxal movement in the area.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, addressing reporters on Sunday, April 13, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to ending the insurgency. "The battle against Naxals is in its last phase. During the anti-naxal operation, we lost several of our jawans. Due to them, we are moving towards a successful operation," he said. He added, "The jawan's sacrifice will not go in vain and the operation against maoists will reach its final destination."
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