One killed crossfire between CPI (M) and Jharkhand Party (N)

MIDNAPUR: One person was killed in exchange of fire between CPI (M) and Jharkhand Party (N) activists at Jamda village in West Midnapur early this morning, police said.

District Superintendent of Police, R Rajasekharan said around midnight, about 60 armed supporters of Jharkhand Party (N) surrounded the house of local CPI (M) leader Upen Mahato and opened fire.

Mahato's security guard and CPI (M) supporters present at the house retaliated, Rajasekharan said.

Mahato's father-in-law, Manik Mahato, was seriously injured in the crossfire. He was rushed to Jhargram hospital where he died, police said.

Nearly 60 to 70 rounds of fire were exchanged in the encounter which lasted for nearly two and a half hours, police said adding that several cartridges and one AK-47 rifle was recovered from the place.

Contingents of the Eastern Fronier Rifles (EFR) and the State Armed Police (SAP) have been rushed to the area, Rajasekharan said adding that patrolling there had been intensified.