Maoists attackers came from Jharkhand: Top police officer

The Maoists who gunned down four Eastern Frontier Rifle jawans last night in West Bengal's West Midnapore district came from neighbouring Jharkhand, a senior police officer said today.

"The Maoists, probably numbering three, infiltrated into Gidhni area from Jharkhand," the officer with district police told PTI on condition of anonymity.

The jawans were killed in a surprise assault by Maoists while they were patrolling near Gidhni Bazaar in the Jhargram sub-division, barely hours after chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee left the area.

"The jawans were having tea at a local tea stall at the market when the Maoists walked up and opened fire," he said.

The ultras soon fled with two AK-47s, one INSAS and one SLR of the slain cops. They crossed a football ground and disappeared into the jungles of Tulsiboni, the officer said.

A huge police force was searching the area which included villages of Antapati, Punnapani and Jamboni, he aid.