Gaya: CRPF personnel killed in encounter with Maoists

A Central Reserve Police Force personnel was killed and five others were wounded in an armed encounter with Maoists near Panchrukhia forests on the borders of Gaya and Aurangabad districts, CRPF Deputy Inspector General Umesh Kumar said on Sunday.     

The encounter took place late on Saturday evening and CoBRA personnel D N Chaudhary died in hospital in Gaya, he said.

CoBRA is an acronym for Commando Battalion for Resolute Action -- is a specialised unit of the CRPF created to counter the Naxalite problem.

The encounter took place when security forces from the CoBRA unit, special task force and the police of Gaya and Aurangabad districts on Saturday carried out a joint combing operation against the heavily armed ultras.

The Maoists had opened fire on the advancing security men, who retaliated, Kumar said adding six security personnel -- all belonging to the CRPF's CoBRA unit -- were injured.

They were rushed to hospital where Chaudhary died during treatment, he said. The security forces launched fresh assault on the Maoists in the area on Sunday, the CRPF DIG said adding there was no report of any casualty or injury.