According to the police, the Maoists, who hid themselves behind a human shield formed by local tribals, fired at the team of joint forces.

No policemen, however, suffered injuries by bullets shot at them from the tribals’ traditional weapons.

The incident took place after a team comprising personnel from CRPF, EFR and West Bengal Police began a search operation in villages under the Kumra gram panchayat, Bandwan, following a tip-off that some Maoists were holed up inside Kayra forest.

But soon, the villagers started to complain about “police excesses” during the search operation. Around 11.45 am, hundreds of villagers, mostly tribals, under the banner of Adibasi Mulbasi Jonoganer Committee, stopped the joint force team from moving ahead.

The tribals, armed with traditional weapons, rounded off the security team and a clash ensued, said a police officer, adding that a group of Maoists, hiding behind the villagers, opened fire on the team prompting the security personnel to retaliate.

“More than 100 rounds were fired by both sides,” said Rajesh Yadav, SP (Purulia).

In the clash that lasted for more than an hour, Additional Superintendent of Police C Sudhakar and Deputy Superintendent of Police Tanmoy Sarkar were injured.

The policemen have been admitted to a government hospital in Bandwan. The police claimed that several villagers and possibly a few Maoists received bullet injuries, but none turned up at the hospital for treatment fearing arrests.

“We have arrested 23 people in connection with the clash,” Yadav said.

Meanwhile, the president of Adibasi Mulbasi Jonoganer Committee, Anil Singh, said their agitations against the police excesses will be intensified in future.