LWEs kill policemen, BJP leader, set fire to earthmovers in poll-bound J’khand

 Latehar/Kunda/Medininagar (Jharkhand), Nov. 23 (PTI): Ahead of the first phase of polls for Jharkhand assembly on November 30 left wing extremists killed four state police personnel in Latehar district and gunned down two persons, including a local BJP leader in Palamau district, police said on Saturday.

The rebels also burnt down two earthmoving machines in Lohardaga district.

All the three districts are set to go to polls in the first phase on November 30.

A police official said the ambush on police personnel took place on Friday night at Lukiatand village under Chandwa police station.

The official said the four police personnel were killed when LWEs opened fire on a police patrol van.

Another police personnel, who was part of the patrol party, escaped the attack.

It took place at a time when the state is in the midst of high voltage campaigning for the upcoming five-phase assembly polls in the state.

The killed have been identified as ASI Sukra Oraon and home guards Sikander Singh, Jamuna Prasad and Sambhu Prasad, he said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police of Palamau Range Amol Venukant Homkar said that 45-year-old Mohan Gupta, the BJP leader died on the spot at Pipra Bazaar after being shot at by the red rebels on Saturday.

The other person, who was accompanying Gupta, succumbed to bullet injuries during treatment at the hospital, he said adding two other persons who were with them were seriously injured in the shootout.

The DIG said CPI(Maoists) have claimed responsibility of the incident by leaving a leaflet at the spot.

Security forces have launched a search operation in the area, he said.

According to the police the Maoists had made an abortive attempt on Gupta in 2012.

During preliminary probe eye-witnesses said that two motor-bike-borne men had fired at him from close and fled, the police said.