Top leader among 8 Maoists gunned down in Jharkhand

Eight Maoists, including a senior central committee member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), were killed in an encounter with security forces on Monday in Bokaro district of Jharkhand, officials said, with Union home minister Amit Shah hailing the success of the operation.

- Raj Kumar

RANCHI:

The exchange of fire between the extremists and a joint team of state police and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawans of the CRPF began at around 5.30am in Lugu Hills of Lalpania area of the district, the officials said.

"During the encounter, eight bodies, a large quantity of weapons, and daily use items have been recovered. In the preliminary investigation, three of the eight bodies have been identified," Jharkhand director general of police Anurag Gupta said.