SP, five cops killed by Maoists in Jharkhand

In one of major strikes by Maoists in Jharkhand, a superintendent of police and five policemen were killed in an ambush in Dumka district Tuesday, police said.

"Pakur's Superintendent of Police Amarjit Balihar and five policemen were killed in an ambush by Maoist Guerrillas," Jharkhand Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar told IANS.

The attack took place in a jungle stretch between Kathikund and Gopikanar in Dumka, around 350 km from Ranchi, while Balihar's convoy was passing the spot. The guerrillas lying in wait first triggered a landmine blast and later fired indiscriminately on the convoy. Balihar died on the spot.

Balihar, who came to Dumka to attend a meeting, was returning home when he was attacked.

Police sources say the Maoists were trying to execute big incident like the recent attack in Chhattisgarh in which many Congress leaders and policemen were killed.

This is not the first time such a high-ranking official has been killed by the leftist insurgents. In 2000, just before creation of Jharkhand, Lohardagga Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar was killed by Maoists.

Maoist guerrillas are active in 18 of Jharkhand's 24 districts.