Ranchi: A large number of Maoists today ambushed a police party led by Amarjit Balihar, superintendent of police, Pakud, in Santhal Pargana, killing the SP and six other policemen. The ambush took place near Dunka, in a forested area.

Police reinforcements have been rushed to the area.

The area is dominated by Maoists,who have been frequently targeting government properties.

Director General of Police, Jharkhand Rajeev Kumar said, the SP, his three bodyguards and the driver were killed in the ambush.

A large reinforcement of policemen headed by the Inspector General of Dumka region has left for the ambush spot.

Pakur SP Amarjit Balihar, a 2003 batch IPS officer, his driver and the guards were ambushed by the Naxals when they were returning to Pakur, after attending a meeting in Dumka, a senior official said.

The incident took place near the forests of Amrapa, nearly 400 km from capital Ranchi. The extremists exploded bombs and opened fire on the police vehicles.

Two other policemen who were injured have been admitted to hospital, Dumka Deputy Commissioner Harsh Mangala said.

The senior officer had been targeted by extremists in the past due to his tough stand against the Maoists in Pakur, which has their strong presence.

He is the second SP to fall to the rebels’ bullets in the region.

On October 4, 2000, the ultras of the People’s War, now merged with CPI (Maoist), had killed Lohardaga SP Ajay Kumar Singh in undivided Bihar. Lohardaga later became part of Jharkhand.

At least 200 central paramilitary personnel have been rushed to the spot to nab the extremists who were involved in the attack.