Maoists kill policeman in West Bengal

Kolkata, Dec 22 (IANS) A police constable died and two others were injured when armed Maoist rebels attacked security personnel near a police camp in West Bengal's Purulia district Monday.

The Maoists fired indiscriminately at the security personnel guarding the Berada police camp under the Barabazar police station Monday evening, said Purulia district police superintendent Rajesh Yadav.

The six ultras, who rode three motorcycles, waylaid the policemen who were going from the camp to a nearby under-construction community centre.

'The Maoists had earlier warned the police not to help build the community centre,' said a senior police officer.

The incident occurred near the West Bengal-Jharkhand border, when the Maoists surrounded the six policemen and asked them to hand over their guns. Three of the policemen complied but three others did not, and were shot at.

The ultras fled with the guns.

The slain policeman was identified as Chinmoy Mandal. The condition of one of the injured was critical.

Senior police officers rushed to the spot.

Maoist insurgency is posing a big problem in Purulia, Bankura and Midnapore West districts of the state.