CRPF man, Maoist killed in encounter in West Bengal

Jhargram (WB): A CRPF personnel and a Maoist were killed in an encounter between the joint forces and rebels at Bandarboni and Cheraboni areas near Jhargram town of West Midnapore district.

The encounter which began Friday night was still continuing. Police said the joint forces surrounded Bandarboni, Cheraboni and Tetuldanga areas last night after getting a tip-off that Maoists had taken shelter in those areas after triggering a series of violent incidents in Jhargram recently.

As the joint force approached the areas, they were fired upon by the Maoists, to which they retaliated, the police said.

During a search operation today, the joint forces recovered the bullet-ridden body of a CRPF personnel and a Maoist from Bandarboni. They were yet to be identified, the police said.

Arms were also recovered from the spot.

Suspected Maoists had yesterday blown up a building housing the office of the Krishak Sabha at a village and set afire to a community hall in Jhargram sub-division of West Midnapore district.

The group then attacked the neighbouring village of Radhanagar where they set ablaze a community hall, triggering panic among the villagers.

On Thursday, a school employee Srikanta Mondol was killed by the Maoists.