1 dead, 4 securitymen injured in gunbattle with Maoists in West Bengal

A CRPF personnel attached with the elite anti-Naxal battalion COBRA was killed and four others injured in a gunbattle with Maoist ultras inside a forest in Naxal-hit Purulia district of West Bengal.

Acting on a tip-off about the existence of a Maoist camp at Dekai forest, securitymen of the joint force launched an operation in the area when the ultras fired at them, superintendent of police Sunil Chowdhury said.

Five security personnel were injured in the exchange of fire, of whom one died soon after, he said, adding the injured were being taken to Kolkata in a helicopter.

The SP said there was report of a landmine explosion, but he could not confirm it at present.

The body of the slain securityman was being taken to Purulia hospital.

Police sources said some Maoists were also injured in the gunbattle but no body was found. A search operation was on.