Five policemen got killed in an encounter with the CPI (Maoist) rebels under Chainpur Police Station in Gumla. Two jawans of the state police have also been injured seriously in the incident; one of them is reported to have succumbed to injuries.
The Maoists are said to be 15-16 in numbers and also used motorcycles to escape from the site. Combing operation was being conducted till late night to nab the Maoists in the nearby Chainpur jungles.
The victims have been identified as Dilip Bedia of Ranchi, Ram Narayan Ram of Garhwa, Bhola Singh of Chapra in Bihar and Chotelal Murmu of Godda, all from the state police.
Gopal Singh of Chapra, who was said to be seriously injured and was being treatment at Apollo Hospitals at Ranchi, has also died, said official sources.
Maoists, at least 15 in numbers were waiting in the market posing themselves as villagers, attacked all of a sudden at the patrolling party near Chainpur bus stand on Thursday and killed two security personnel on the spot while the other two succumbed to their injuries while they were being taken to the hospital.
“Thursday being market day at Chainpur block, the Maoists who were hiding among the villagers suddenly attacked the patrolling party who arrived on police jeep killing four policemen and injuring two others,” Officer-in-charge of
Chainpur Police Station Pankaj Kumar Singh was quoted as saying.
The Maoists, dressed like villagers disappeared in the nearby Chainpur jungles with the help of motorcycles soon after the incident. The police immediately launched intensive search operations in the nearby jungles.