Five policemen were killed in an encounter with the Maoists in Gumla. Two jawans of the State police were also injured seriously in the incident, which took place under Chainpur Police Station. One of them is reported to have succumbed to his injuries.
The Maoists are said to have been 15 to 16 in number. They used motorcycles to escape from the site. Combing operations were being conducted till late on Thursday to nab the rebels in the nearby Chainpur jungles.
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. Gopal Singh of Chapra, who was said to be seriously injured and was being treatment at Apollo Hospitals in Ranchi, is also suspected to have died, according to official sources.
“Thursday is market day in Chainpur block,” said officer-in-charge of Chainpur Police Station Pankaj Kumar Singh. The rebels were waiting in the market, posing as villagers. They attacked the patrolling party near Chainpur bus stand all of a sudden and killed two security personnel on the spot, while the other two succumbed to injuries while they were being taken to hospital. The Naxals then disappeared into the Chainpur jungles.