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Indian paramilitary kills 4 Naxals in Jharkhand gunfight

Xinhua, February 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Four Naxals were killed and two paramilitary troopers wounded Friday in an overnight gunfight in India's eastern state of Jharkhand, officials said.

The gunfight between India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and Naxals broke out at Taimara Ghati - Bundu of Ranchi district, the capital city of Jharkhand.

"In Jharkhand, four Naxals have been killed in a gunfight with CRPF at Ghagara-bera of Taimara Ghat," an official said. "Two CRPF personnel were also wounded in the gunfight."

India's official broadcaster - All India Radio (AIR) said the four slain Naxals included a woman cadre.

Reports said local police was also accompanying CRPF in the operation and the gunfight lasted through the night.

According to broadcaster, in a separate attack Naxals blew up the Newadi Panchayat Bhawan building in Latehar district, about 107 km west of Ranchi city.

The broadcaster quoting police sources said around 150 Naxals participated in the attack.

Naxalites are also known as "Maoists".

Maosit insurgency has its genesis in the violent left-wing rebellion that began in 1967 at village Naxalbari in Indian state of West Bengal.

Currently Maoists are active in more than a third of India's 600-odd districts across central and eastern India.

India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh once termed the Naxalite movement as India's "greatest internal security challenge".

New Delhi has deployed several companies of its paramilitary forces to take on Naxals in their strongholds.

Reports say the insurgency has claimed more than 6,000 lives and rendered thousands of poor inhabitants homeless. Endit