RANCHI: A constable was killed and Ranchi SSP Prabhat Kumar and his bodyguard were injured when a group of suspected Maoists opened fire on the police team deployed for anti-Maoist operation in a Khunti village on Tuesday.

SSP Kumar was leading a joint team of CRPF jawans and district (Ranchi and Khunti) police to Dulmi village, 30km from the city, on the border of Ranchi and Khunti districts. Police said Maoist zonal commander Kakila Munda alias Chandal and one of his aides were also killed in the cross-firing, but only Munda’s body could be found.

The SSP and the injured jawan were taken to Khunti sadar hospital for preliminary treatment. They were later shifted to a private hospital in Ranchi for better treatment. A doctor at Mahavir Medica super-speciality Hospital said: “The officer has sustained a bullet near his right armpit. He bled profusely but is out of danger.”

Home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday spoke to Kumar. “I have spoken to Ranchi SSP Prabhat Kumar who displayed exemplary courage while fighting a Naxal group in Jharkhand ,” he said in a statement.

