Naxals kill 8 policemen, loot 35 rifles in Bihar

Eight policemen were killed and 10 injured during a fierce encounter with Maoists, who kidnapped three security personnel and decamped with 35 of their rifles in Lakhisarai district.

Eight policemen were killed and 10 injured during a fierce encounter with Maoists, who kidnapped three security personnel and decamped with 35 of their rifles in Lakhisarai district.

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Among those killed in the encounter yesterday were six Bihar Military Police personnel, the Officer-in-Charge of Kawaiya police outpost Bhulan Yadav, and a policeman, Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Singh told PTI from the spot.

Singh, who trekked to the hilly spot leading a team comprising BMP, State Auxiliary Force and CRPF, found the eight bodies. The bodies would be airlifted for post-mortem before being handed over to their families, he said. The SP said three policemen were missing after the encounter and it was believed that the Maoists took them away. A helicopter was making an aerial survey to locate the missing personnel, he said.

The Maoists had opened fire at team of CRPF, BMP and SAP personnel during a combing operation at Ramtalnagar village under Kajtra police station in the district, Singh said. The Maoists fled after the encounter. The entire area had been cordoned off, he said.