A CRPF commandant was killed during an anti-naxal operation in Lakharia forest region of Bihar's Jamui district on Friday.

Commandant Hari Kant Jha, who was the second-in-command of the CRPF base in Jamui, got an information around 4 a.m. that Maoists were camping in the forests, Jamui SP-in charge R.N. Tiwary said.

“Jha formed a team of CRPF jawans and led them to the forest. They came across the Maoists and an encounter ensued. Jha was hit by bullets and died on the spot. The battle continued for over two hours,” Mr. Tiwary said.

Mr. Tiwary said CRPF personnel from other camps have been dispatched to the place of the incident, which is around 30 km from the Khaira police station and lies close to Jamui’s border with Jharkhand.

“The body of the Commandant has been recovered by the CRPF personnel and it is being brought to the police station,” he said.

CRPF Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) Chiranjeev Prasad said senior officials had rushed to Jamui to take stock of the situation and intensive combing operation had been launched in areas surrounding the place of incident.

“As per our reports, the encounter began at around 5 AM when Jha led our forces inside the jungle. A few Maoists also seem to have been killed and injured in the incident. The place has been surrounded and our additional troops are reaching there,” Mr. Prasad said.

Jamui, bordering Jharkhand, is considered a hotbed of Maoists in Bihar with other districts like Gaya, Aurangabad, Munger and Lakhisarai.