Ranchi: Five police personnel were killed in an ambush by Maoists Friday while they were patrolling the area at Jharkhand's Saraikela district, officials said.
This was the third attack on security forces by the left-wing rebels since the Lok Sabha polls ended last month.
According to a police spokesperson, Maoist guerrillas attacked a police patrol at Kukru Bazar under Tiruldih police station area of Saraikela district along the Jharkhand-Bengal border, killing two Assistant Sub-Inspectors and three constables. The rebels also took away the rifles of the killed police personnel.
Following the incident, additional troops from the district headquarters were rushed to the spot.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das condemned the attack, saying "their martyrdom will not go in vain".
The entire state is with the bereaved families, he said.
Das said the incident would not affect the morale of the security personnel and the government would continue to take action against the Maoists.
A security personnel was killed and four others injured in a gun battle with Maoists in Jharkhand's Dumka district on June 2. On May 28, 16 security personnel were injured in Maoist landmine blast in Seraikela.
(With inputs from IANS and PTI)