Maoists shot dead five police personnel and looted their firearms in an ambush on Friday, 14 June while they were patrolling the area in Jharkhand’s Seraikela-Kharsawan, officials said.
According to Sub-Divisional Police Officer Avinash Kumar, the five policemen - two assistant sub-inspectors and three constables - came under attack while patrolling the Tiruldih police station area of the district along the Jharkhand-Bengal border.
District Superintendent of Police Chandan Kumar said 10 to 12 Maoists came on motor-cycles, surrounded the policemen and shot them dead near Kukoru Bazaar locality. They also looted five arms of the slain policemen, he said.
According to The Indian Express, the slain policemen have been identified as Assistant sub-inspectors Goverdhan Paswan and Manodhan Hansda and three constables, Dhaneshwar Mahto, Yudhisthir and Dibru Purty.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das condemned the attack, saying "their martyrdom will not go in vain".
“It's a very sad incident. I'm very distraught. Naxals think they can demotivate our jawans through such incidents but our jawans' morale is high. The Jharkhand government and people are with the bereaved families, at this hour,” he told ANI..
“I assure everyone that our jawans will definitely achieve our aim of a 'naxal free Jharkhand'. The DGP and CRPF IG will visit the spot on Saturday, I have asked for a detailed report from the DGP,” he added.
The entire state is with the bereaved families, he said.
(With inputs from The Indian Express, ANI and PTI)
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