Two persons were killed and six others sustained injuries today when they were caught in an encounter between security personnel and Maoists in Gumla district of Jharkhand.
"Truck driver Heeralal Oraon (30) and labourer Nilesh Oraon (26) died while Ashok Oraon, Sureshwar Oraon, Sameer Oraon and Upendra Oraon were injured in crossfire between Maoists and the security forces at Marwai village early in the morning," said Mritunjay Kumar, Superintendent of Police (Lohardaga district), who is also acting SP of Gumla district.
The Maoists ambushed a bauxite-laden truck with some labourers early today," he said, adding, the injured were rushed to the nearby Bishanpur Community hospital.
The four seriously injured persons were referred to Rajendra Institute Medical Science in Ranchi, Kumar said.
He said the security personnel had information that the ultras would assemble on the spot and that they (personnel) wanted to stop them.
The crossfire began when the ultras opened fire, forcing the security personnel to retaliate.
Kumar said the mineral belonged to Gurdari Mines. Senior police officials including DIG (Ranchi) Praveen Kumar Singh have reached the spot to investigate the incident.
