Maoist leader killed, Ranchi SSP injured in encounter

RANCHI: Two persons, including the self-styled area commander of banned CPI( Maoist) Chandanji were killed while Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Prabhat Kumar and his bodyguard suffered bullet injuries during an encounter in Khunti district, about 35 km from here today.

The encounter took place when Kumar on getting information that 'Chandanji's dasta', firing squad of the Maoist leader was at a place on Khunti-Ranchi road headed the search operation.

When the police approached the area, they came under fire and the SSP's driver was killed, Jharkhand Director General of Police D K Pandey told PTI.

"Ranchi SSP Prabhat Kumar suffered bullet injury on his right shoulder. He has been admitted to a hospital and is out of danger," Pandey told PTI. Kumar's bodyguard is also out of danger, he said.

Two Maoists were also injured in the encounter, he said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the SSP and Chief Minister Raghubar Das, official sources said.

Das has asked the officials to ensure that the injured police officer and his body guard gets proper treatment, the sources added.