Bihar CM announces compensation for Lakhisarai Maoist attack victims

Patna (Bihar), Aug 30 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday announced compensation packages for the security forces killed in encounter with the naxals in Poonadih village of Bihar's Lakhisarai District.

Kumar, who visited the injured victims in Patna, said the State police would carry out the necessary operations to find out the number of Maoists and their hideout in the forest area

"The police will assess the situation, and about the number of members in the group or any other details, or even going to the area. And to find out about their cover, all those things and the whole incident will be investigated, and they will tell us about it. We'll take necessary steps as and when needed," said Kumar.

"All those who have died in the incident would be given right compensation according to the State's policies. They will get ten million rupees, and since the area is such wherein under SRE (Security Related Expenditure scheme), the district has a certain kind of insurance, so they will get that as well. The amount is about 1.3 million rupees," he added.

Earlier today, a fierce encounter that was raging between security forces and Naxals for around 14 hours in Poonadih village of Bihar's Lakhisarai district came to an end.

The combing operations, however, are still on.

According to reports, at least six security personnel were killed and over eleven others were injured in the encounter.

The encounter began on Sunday evening when over 150 armed Maoists attacked search teams of the Bihar police that were combing the area after intelligence reports of Maoists' presence in the forest.

Several Maoists are also reported to have been injured in the encounter. (ANI)