Two Jharkhand police personnel sustained serious injuries in an IED blast triggered by suspected Maoists that was followed by an exchange of fire in Serengdag region in Lohardaga district, over 120km from Ranchi, on Friday afternoon.

Security forces retaliated to the firing by the rebels and over 1,000 rounds were exchanged.

The injured, Upendra Singh and Arvind Kumar Pandey, were airlifted to Ranchi for treatment at Medica, a private hospital in the city. Their condition is said to be critical but they are out of danger.

Jharkhand DGP MV Rao with one of the injured jawans. Telegraph picture

Lohardaga police sources said the blast occurred around 1.30pm when security forces were out for a combing operation following a tip-off about the presence of Maoists in the area. “The jawans were walking when an IED blew up near Sahighat forest. Soon, the rebels began firing but our men too retaliated,” said an officer.

“A hunt is on to nab the rebels, who disappeared taking advantage of the denseness of the forest,” the officer added.

Lohardaga superintendent of police Priyanka Meena, who visited the spot of the blast, confirmed to the media the injuries to the two security personnel but added that they were safely evacuated and airlifted to Ranchi for treatment.

The police are suspecting the involvement of the Ravindra Ganjhu squad in the incident. Ganjhu is a regional commander of the Maoists who operates in Lohardaga, Gumla and Latehar districts. Talking to reporters, North Chotanagpur deputy inspector general of police Akhilesh Jha said: “We suspect that the blast and subsequent firing are a handiwork of the Ganjhu squad. Ganjhu is a wanted rebel.” Later in the evening, Jharkhand director general of police M.V. Rao visited Medica to learn about the condition of the jawans.