NEW DELHI, April 15 (Xinhua) -- At least seven policemen and a Naxalite were killed Saturday after a prison van carrying them crashed into a truck in India's eastern state of Bihar, police said.
The accident took place at Gaighat village of Sitamarhi district, about 110 km north of Patna, the capital city of Bihar.
"Today a van carrying two Naxalite prisoners and 12 policemen crashed into a truck near Gaighat village of Runnisaidpur area," a police official told Xinhua. "The van was taking the two Naxals to Sitamarhi court when it met the accident."
According to police, four policemen died on the spot, while three other policemen succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital.
"The remaining five injured policemen and Naxal were later shifted to a Sri Krishna Memorial College and Hospital," the official said.
Police officials said the cause of accident was not immediately known.
The Bihar chief minister has announced compensation to the families of policemen killed in the accident.
