Two CRPF men killed, 5 injured in Maoist ambush

Ranchi, July 23 (IANS) Two CRPF personnel were killed and five injured in a gun battle with Maoist guerrillas in Jharkhand Monday, police said.

The CRPF personnel were attacked in the Porahahatt jungle in Rania in Khuti district, around 70 km from state capital Ranchi, they said.

The personnel were sent to the jungle early in the morning based on intelligence inputs.

The guerrillas ambushed the personnel and a gun battle ensued. In battle, two CRPF personnel were killed and five were injured.

Initial reports said that the two personnel were killed in a cross-fire of CRPF parties.

However, CRPF officials and Jharkhand Director General of Police G.S. Rath denied any cross-firing.

But Rath said the Ranchi deputy inspector general of police would probe the incident and file the report.

Maoists are active in 18 of the state's 24 districts.