Munger/Patna, Jan. 30: Suspected Maoists killed a sub-inspector rank officer during an encounter at Lathiya Kol forests at Lakhisarai district this morning.

The deceased, identified as Bhavesh Kumar, was posted in Dharhara police station of neighbouring Munger district four months ago.

Around 200 villagers of Lathiya Kol, about 125km east of Patna, gheraoed Piri Bazaar police station this evening, protesting the injury of Suresh Koda sustained during the encounter.

Lakhisarai superintendent of police Ashok Kumar said: "The police had information about Maoist movement and an intense combing operation has been going on since January 28. The police personnel of three districts - Jamui, Lakhisarai and Munger - are jointly participating in this operation in order to flush out the rebels. A hardcore Maoist was killed in an encounter in Jamui last evening. Around 10 this morning, a team of cops and paramilitary forces entered Lathiya Kol to pick up a Maoist leader, Lakhan Koda."

"The team, which had Bhavesh too, was marching under the command of Munger additional superintendent of police (operations) Naveen Kumar. As they entered the village in the forest area and started to question some villagers Lakhan's whereabouts, the police was ambushed with suspected rebels firing shots from all directions at them around 12.55pm. Bhavesh, who hails from Sahebpur Kamal in Begusarai, was shot in his neck. A team immediately carried him to Darhara primary health centre from where he was referred to Munger sadar hospital. He died on his way to the hospital," Ashok added.

The sources said Bhavesh is survived by two teenaged children, including a girl.

During the half-an-hour encounter, local villager Suresh sustained a bullet injury in his shoulder.

"The encounter ended immediately after Bhavesh was shot and taken to Darhara, about 7km from the spot. Suresh, on the other hand, was carried by the villagers to Piri Bazaar primary health centre. Around 5pm, villagers surrounded the Piri Bazaar police station, located about 3km from the village, suddenly. They also indulged in heavy stone pelting. Additional police forces were called in to check the situation," another police officer said.

Lakhisarai sub-divisional police officer Pankaj Kumar confirmed that the police had to fire shots in the air. "At least five shots were fired to disperse the mob followed by a lathicharge," he added.