Three Maoists among those killed in EFR attack

Three Maoists and a civilian were among those killed when the ultras attacked the Eastern Frontier Rifle camp in West Midnapore district leaving 24 jawans dead, police said on Tuesday.

"Three Maoists were killed during retaliation by the jawans after the attack," Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh told PTI.

An unidentified civilian was also killed in the attack, Singh added.

Twenty-four EFR jawans were killed on Monday when the ultras overran their camp at Silda in West Midnapore after setting it on fire.

There were 51 EFR jawans and officers in the camp when the attack took place, police said, adding that many of them are still missing.

All the bodies were recovered on Tuesday morning, police said, adding they have been sent to Midnapore Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem.

However, police has not yet recovered bodies of the Maoists killed in the attack.

Joint forces jawans have sanitised the entire 30 km stretch of road where mines were planted by the Maoists to prevent police from entering the spot.

After the attack, the Maoists had celebrated the victory in the nearby Vadua forest by firing in the air.

The ultras had also attacked a Central Reserve Police Force camp at Dharampur in the district. However, details were not available.

Maoist leader Kishenji has claimed responsibility for the attack.

"We have attacked the camp and this is our answer to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's 'Operation Green Hunt' and unless the Centre stops this inhuman military operation, we are going to answer this way only," Kishenji told PTI from an undisclosed location.