23 policemen killed in encounter with Naxals in Bihar

PATNA: A total 23 policemen were killed in 2007 in encounters with naxals, who lost 12, official sources said on Thursday.

Eight policemen were killed in Rohtas district, which accounted for the maximum number, followed by four in Lakhisarai, three in East Champaran, two in Bhagalpur.

Gaya, Buxar, Jammui, Sheohar, Sitamarhi and Saharsa districts reported killing of one police personnel each in encounters during the year, figures made available by the police heaquarters said.

The police in its turn killed seven naxals in Gaya, three in West Champaran and two in Rohtas district, the sources said.

The sources said in about 171 incidents of naxal-related violence in 29 out of 38 districts of the state during the year, 39 common men lost their lives. In Gaya district alone 12 innocent people were killed in such violence, followed by 6 in Munger, 5 in East Champaran, 4 in Rohtas, 3 each in Jammui and Saran, 2 in Arwal and 1 each in Vaishali, Lakhisarai, Aurangabad and Purnea.

The naxals killed three policemen including a deputy superintendent of police of CRPF, V K Kapil in an encounter which lasted for over several hours on the borders of Motihari and Sheohar districts adjacent to Indo-Nepal borders late Wednesday night.

The sources said the naxals also looted 37 weapons in their attacks on police stations and outposts during the year.

In counter action, police arrested 553 naxalites, including front ranking leaders Tusharkant Bhattacharya from Dujra locality of Patna, Ajay Kanu, Yogesh Yadav and Babulal Shahni.

The police also recovered 160 firearms from the possession of arrested naxals. The arms included self loading rifles and stenguns besides, 2916 detonators, 35 can bombs, 4800 live cartridges, 2476 kg of explosive materials during the year, the sources added.