3 cops killed in firing by poachers in MP

Two accused also dead; IG transferred

Three policemen were killed after poachers opened fire on them in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh in the wee hours of Saturday, while two of the assailants were also killed, officials said.

One of the accused was believed to be killed in retaliatory fire by the policemen, while another was killed in an encounter with the police later in the evening, they said.

The administration demolished the houses of some of the accused. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a high-level meeting after the incident, and announced financial assistance of Rs one crore each and government jobs for the next of the kin of the slain policemen.

He also transferred Inspector General (IG) of Gwalior zone Anil Sharma for “delay” in reaching the site of the incident.

The incident took place on Sahrok Road near Saga Barkheda village under the jurisdiction of Aron police station, 60 km from the state capital, around 3 am, said state home minister Narottam Mishra.

The police personnel had gone to the area after receiving a tipoff about the presence of poachers there, he said.

“As the police personnel surrounded them from all sides, the poachers opened fire. Three policemen were killed in the firing,” he said.

The slain policemen were identified as sub-inspector Rajkumar Jatav and constables Nilesh Bhargava and Santaram Meena.

Santosh Giri, driver of the private vehicle in which police were travelling, was injured in the incident and undergoing treatment at the district hospital, said Superintendent of Police Rajiv Kumar Mishra.

Police sources said that body parts of five black bucks and a peacock were recovered from the spot.