7 Indian Security Men Killed In Encounter With Maoists

New Delhi, Jan 8, IRNA - Seven Indian security personnel were killed and at least nine others injured in a fierce gun battle with Maoist guerrillas in Latehar district of the state of Jharkhand on Monday. Nine other personnel from both Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jharkhand Jaguar were injured in the gun battle with the Maoists in the district, pti reported. The encounter broke out when the Maoists from a hill-top fired on the security personnel. The security forces have consolidated their positions now and some causalities have been inflicted upon the Naxals too, a CRPF official said in New Delhi. This was the first major encounter this year where security forces suffered causalities in anti-Maoist operations. It came close on the heels of Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh's two-day visit to the Maoist-affected district of Latehar, Garhwa and Palamau from December 31 to inspect centrally sponsored rural developmental works./end