Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), Nov 27 (IANS): A CRPF constable was killed and two of his colleagues were injured when Maoists opened fire on security forces in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, an official said on Monday.

The attack took place on Sunday around 7.50 p.m. in Talwargarh area. The dead constable was identified as Manjunath Jakkanavar, 31, a resident of Dharwad in Karnataka.

The two injured Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were flown by helicopter along with the body of the slain constable, CRPF Deputy Inspector General M. Dinakaran told IANS.

Dinakaran said the Maoists attacked a CRPF unit and the Maharashtra Police when they were searching the area.

The Maoists first attacked the security forces around 5.40 p.m. But the troops retaliated.

"The Maoists fled the scene but returned again around 7.50 p.m. in larger numbers. They fired on the troops. The security forces again retaliated but lost our constable," Dinakaran said.