Ranchi, Jan 8 (IANS): At least six security personnel were killed and four were missing Tuesday after a Maoist ambush a day earlier in Jharkhand.

"Six men have been killed... The missing could be injured or dead," Jharkhand Director General of Police G.S. Rath told IANS.

He said the guerrillas ambushed the patrolling security personnel near Amuatikar village in Latehar district, around 110 km from here.

"The ambush was followed by a gun battle that lasted more than five hours," he said. "Fifteen security personnel have been injured."

Four of the killed were from the Central Reserve Police Force. Helicopters could not land at the spot to take out the injured due to bad weather at night.

It was not clear who the other two dead security personnel were.

Additional forces sent Tuesday rescued some of the injured and recovered two bodies.

Police say the guerrillas occupied a vantage point as they fired at the unsuspecting security forces.

Maoists are known to be active in 18 of Jharkhand's 24 districts.