Dehra Dun, August 30
Maoist guerillas from across the Indo-Nepal border on Saturday opened fire towards the border town of Jhulaghat in Pithoragarh district of Uttaranchal, injuring a two-year-old child. The Maoists fired four rounds, leaving the town and the adjoining border areas terror struck.
Even though the Secret Service Bureau (SSB) and the police were present at the site when the incident occurred, the forces did not come into action since the firing was from across the border. Following the shooting incident, the markets on either side of the border were closed in protest.
Lack of action from the SSB during the incident has left the residents of Jhulaghat upset. The residents called an emergency meeting after the incident and kept their shops closed.
The two-year-old daughter of a businessman from Jhulaghat, Laxmidutt Gadkoti, was severely injured by two bullets during the firing. The child has been admitted to the district hospital.
Ms Kanchan Choudhary Bhattacharya, DGP, has sent a police team to monitor the situation in the border town.
Pithoragarh SSP Chittarangad yesterday left for the border town to take stock of the situation.
Meanwhile, combing operations are infull swing in the forests of Chortgalia and other areas of Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat and Pithoragarh districts after reports of Maoists visiting Hansa Khatta village in the area.
