Two security personnel were killed in a gun battle with Maoist rebels in Jharkhand early on Friday, police said in Rachi.
According to police, the security personnel who were on patrol spotted a group of Maoist rebels heading towards the Nimiaghat police station of Giridih district which is around 190 km from Ranchi.
The gun battle started near Lakshman Tunda village of the district when the security personnel attempted to stop the rebels.
In the gun battle two security personnel belonging to the Central Reserve Paramilitary Force (CRPF) and the state police were killed.
Police officials said that three Maoist rebels also sustained injuries. They however managed to escape.
Maoist rebels are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state. In the last seven years over 1,300 people including civilians and Maoist rebels have been killed.