An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was injured, while his driver and a Maoist guerrilla were killed in a gun battle with a group of insurgents on Tuesday on the outskirts of the Jharkhand capital, police said.

Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Prabhat Kumar, who was injured in the gunfight in the neighbouring Khunti district, was rushed to a hospital, an official said.

According to police, Kumar had gone on an operation along with a team after receiving information about the presence of some Maoists in the area. When the police team reached the spot, the Maoists surrounded them and started firing at their vehicle.

In the firing, the SSP sustained bullet injuries on his hand and chest and his driver was killed. One Maoist guerrilla was also killed when the police retaliated.

The Ranchi SSP was first admitted to the Khunti Sadar Hospital and after initial treatment, he was referred to Ranchi. Kumar was admitted to a hospital in Ranchi and, according to doctors, he was out of danger.