Four cops, six Maoists killed in Jharkhand

RANCHI - Four security personnel and six Maoists have been killed in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district since Saturday, when the security forces launched a massive operation against the rebels, police said Sunday.

Around 2,000 security personnel comprising state police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel began a combing operation in the Saranda jungles Saturday where 400 Maoists were reportedly present. The operation was led by a deputy inspector general of police-level officer and three helicopters were deployed for surveillance and airlifting of injured security personnel.

One policeman was killed and three were injured in a gun battle with the rebels Saturday. Two of the injured security personnel later succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Nitesh Kumar, an assistant commandant of the Cobra force, was also seriously injured in the gun battle.

The search operation continued Tuesday during which a trooper was killed in gun battle with Maoist guerrillas near Tirilposi village.

Police claimed to have killed six Maoist rebels. The body of one rebel was found Sunday and security forces destroyed a Maoist camp and bunker.