One person was killed and 17 security personnel seriously injured when villagers clashed with security forces at Sankrail in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district in the early hours of Thursday.
The injured include the officer-in-charge of the Sankrail police station. His AK-47 rifle went missing during the scuffle.
A few villagers were also reportedly injured when police fired in the air. One villager, identified as Uttam Mahato, died of injuries later.
According to Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Verma, 45 security personnel, including four women constables, had gone to Chunapara village to arrest a few persons accused of assaulting a Communist Party of India (Marxist) supporter on Sunday.
“A large number of people, mostly supporters of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee and a political party, surrounded the security personnel and attacked them with bamboo staves and bows and arrows.
“Officer-in-charge of Sankrail station Uttam Debnath was seriously injured. Mr. Debnath's AK-47 was snatched away and we have specific information that it has been handed over to the Maoists,” Mr. Verma told The Hindu .
