Two Central Reserve Police Force jawans were on Monday seriously injured after being shot at by Maoists during a combing operation in the forests of West Midnapore district in West Bengal. 

District SP Sunil Chowdhury told PTI that joint security forces were involved in a fierce gunbattle with the Maoists in Goaltore area's Metla forest since last night during which R L Reddy and Bijoy Mahalakshmi were shot at in the morning.

The two jawans have been rushed to the district hospital in a critical condition, he said.

Police suspect that some Maoists have also been injured in the exchange of gun fire.