A police constable was shot dead by armed miscreants in the Mahishadal area of East Midnapore district tonight, the police said.
Two constables and an Assistant Sub-Inspector were on regular night patrol duty and were checking on some illegal lodges in the Kapas area of Mahishadal after getting a tip-off that some miscreants were hiding in one of the lodges, district Superintendent of Police Alok Rajoria told PTI.
As the team approached a bridge near Kapas, they saw a group roaming near a lodge and stopped them, the SP said.
While questioning, two of the miscreants suddenly ran off, Rajoria said adding, constable Nabakumar Hait(45) managed to intercept the third miscreant.
In the commotion, the fourth miscreant opened fire, which hit the constable near his ear. The gang then fled the spot hurling a couple of bombs, the SP said.
Hait was rushed to Tamluk hospital where he was declared dead on arrival, he said.
Senior police officers have reached the spot and a combing operation was underway to trace the whereabouts of the miscreants, Rajoria added.
