CRPF trooper, policeman killed in Jharkhand shootout

A CRPF trooper and a state policeman were killed during a shootout with Maoists in Jharkhand's Khuti district on Thursday, officials said.

The incident occurred near Jamro village around 6.50 a.m. when a joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force's 209 CoBRA Battalion and Jharkhand Police was on a search and area dominance operation.

CRPF trooper Uttpal Rabha, 27, died on the spot in the firing by Maoists while the policeman, whose name is yet to be announced, succumbed to his injuries later, a CRPF official said.

A police officer said the gun battle lasted three hours and that some Maoist guerrillas also sustained bullet injuries.

The bodies have reached Ranchi, the CRPF said.

The CRPF said that Rabha, from North Garo Hills in Meghalaya, joined it in 2011.

Hours after the attack, the security forces carried out searches in forest area in Kuchal in Jharkhand's Latehar district andArecovered an AK 56 rifle along with three magazines and 254 live ammunion of 7.62 mm.

The search operation was carried out by troops of 11th and 214th Battalion of CRPF and Jharkhand Police.

--IANS

rak/vd