Maoist commander killed in Jharkhand gun battle

Ranchi, July 23 :

A Maoist commander was killed in a gun battle with police in Jharkhand’s Khuti district early Wednesday, authorities said.

Police said they raided a school in Lemba village, around 60 km from from Ranchi, on a tip-off that four or five guerrillas from banned outfit, the Communist Party of India-Maoist, were hiding there.

When asked to surrender, the guerrillas opened fire, injuring one policeman.

In the gun battle that ensued, Tulsi Das alias Vishalji, sub-zonal commander of the CPI-Maoist carrying a reward of Rs.3 lakh on his head, was killed. The other guerrillas managed to escape.

An AK-47 rifle, 22 live cartridges, two mobile phones, and two grenades were seized from the spot.

The injured policeman is stated to be out of danger at the hospital.

Maoist guerrillas are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state.

(IANS)