A sub-inspector of the Jharkhand Police was killed and a constable injured after Maoists fired on security forces near Kathikund village in Dumka district on Friday. The incident comes just a day before Arjun Munda takes oath as chief minister on Saturday.
Officials sources said 45-year-old Sapanand Singh, who belongs to the STF, Jaguar, died on the spot when a group 35 CPI-Maoists opened fire at around 100 security personnel who were on a search operation in the area. The condition of Ramashankar Singh, a constable of the Jaguar, was said to be critical.
Deputy inspector general of police VK Pandey, who was posted in Dumka, said two armed squads of the CPI-Maoists headed separately by Maoist leaders Ramlal Roy and Praveen Dada had gained foothold in Dumka, which was free from such activities till recently. Both Roy and Dada have their roots in West Bengal.