Nagpur: 2 policemen hurt in encounter with naxalites

Nagpur, June 4: Two policemen were injured in an encounter with suspected Naxalites in Gadchiroli district in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

According to the police, a group of about 70 to 80 suspected naxalites triggered a landmine explosion when a patrol party was carrying out a search operation in the jungles near village Jambhiya in Etapalli tehsil of the district late last evening. The naxalites also fired at the patrol party which returned the fire, according to a police press release.

The naxalites later fled into the jungle, it said, adding that the patrol party was providing protection to a team of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) working in the area. Two constables, identified as Janrao Suryabhan Kaurti and Videshwar Murlidhar Pise, sustained minor injures in the exchange of fire it said.

The police later seized three kilogram of explosives, 1,500 feet of wire, one detonator, parts of a claymore bomb and other material from the spot, the press release said. The amount of blood on the spot indicated that at least four naxalites were seriously injured in the encounter, the press release added.

UNI