The Maoist contingent surrounded by security forces from all sides at Latehar’s Ambatikar forests and trapped in the wee hours of Monday outwitted the securitymen by immediately putting on army fatigues which look similar to CRPF uniforms in the dark.

They then took strategic positions atop hills and trees and waited for the security personnel to come closer.

No sooner did the Maoists find the joint forces within firing range, they sprayed bullets and hurled grenades at them, killing seven of them and two civilians.   

 “We are reviewing the lapses, if any,” Jharkhand DGP GS Rath said.