CRPF trooper, Maoist killed in Bengal gunfight

KOLKATA - A paramilitary trooper and a Maoist guerrilla were killed in a gunfight in West Bengal’s troubled West Midnapore district early Saturday, police said.

On a tip-off, joint forces along with the Common Battalions for Resolute Action personnel started conducting search operations in Bandarbani forest area of Binpur. “While conducting search operations, a gunfight between Maoists and joint forces started. This left a Maoist cadre and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan dead,” a senior police official said.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered after the gunfight, said the official.

“We are right now conducting search operations in the area,” West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said.

Maoists are active in three western districts of the state - Purulia, West Midnapore and Bankura.