Bhubaneswar:
A Policepost in Saranda, on Orissa-Jharkhand border came under attack by Naxals on Tuesday night.
One Police Commander was killed and five policemen were injured when armed Maoist rebels attacked a police outpost at Bansjore in Jharkhand's Simdega district bordering Orissa.
Around 200 Maoists attacked the policemen stationed at the Saranda forest post near Orissa - Jharkhand border.
There was heavy exchage of gunfire and the police were outnumbered by the Maoists.
Police said Constable Sunil Kumar succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Rourkela in Orissa where three other injured policemen, including in-charge of the outpost, Amar Nath Paswan, are undergoing treatment.
",Nearly 500 Maoist rebels surrounded the outpost and hurled petrol bombs before firing indiscriminately around midnight last night. Policemen retaliated fire and the gunfight lasted till three in the morning,", Sergeant Major J K Jha said.
Bloodstains were found in the area where the Maoists took positions indicating casualties on their side as well, police said.
A civilian identified as a bus passenger was also injured in the attack, Jha said.
Before launching the attack, the Naxalites cut down a tree at Keriaghati and planted landmines to block police reinforcements reaching the outpost.
When the Superintendent of Police D B Sharma rushed with enforcements to the site, a separate group of Maoists triggered a blast at Keriaghati and exchanged gunfire. There was no casualty in the second encounter.