Maoists kill 10 cops in Bihar gunbattle

At least 10 policemen were killed and several injured in a fierce firefight with Maoists on Sunday in the Kajra hill jungles,which stretches for about 40 km till Jamui.

At least 10 policemen were killed and several injured in a fierce firefight with Maoists on Sunday in the Kajra hill jungles,which stretches for about 40 km till Jamui,the state police confirmed on Monday.

Among those killed was Kawaiya outpost in-charge Phulan Yadav,who was leading the anti-Naxalite operation. There are unconfirmed reports of over a dozen policemen still missing in the jungles,about 30 km from Lakhisarai district headquarters.

A BSF helicopter has been combing the area along with over 2,000 personnel from the state police,Special Auxuliary police,Special Task Force and CRPFs Cobra battalions.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,who met seven of the injured personnel admitted at the Patna Medical College and Hospital on Monday,announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to next kin of each jawan killed in the encounter. The state Cabinet for the first time decided to give additional medical help worth Rs 50,000 to Rs 3 lakh to each injured.

It was still unclear why the 23-member police team was suddenly sent on the anti-Naxalite operation. There were unconfirmed reports that the owner of a private company involved in road construction in the area wanted the police to put pressure on the rebels who had been demanding levy from the road construction company.

It was alleged that Lakhisarai SP Ashok Singh unilaterally decided to go ahead with the operation without help from adjoining forces from Jamui and Munger district. A senior police officer told The Indian Express that such an operation should have been headed at least by DSP rank officers from all three districts.

The SP did not seek help from CRPF or perhaps did not give it prior information of 24 hours for the operation. The CRPF joined the operations only on Monday. The CRPF reached the encounter site only around noon,only to take charge of bodies of policemen.

Story continues below this ad

Previous Intelligence reports had indicated that the 40 km hilly jungle stretch from Lakhisarai to Jamui is the hiding place for over 10,000 ultras at different strategic locations. The jungle is almost like a hideout for the rebels Bihar Jharkhand Special Area Committee,which control operations in four districts of Bihar and two districts of Jharkhand from here.

Past operations to drive out Maoists from this safe haven remained unsuccessful for last 20 years. Ultras from the jungle base were responsible for blowing then Munger SP K Suresh Babu in 2005.