Maoists kill 11 in Bihar village (Third Lead)

PATNA - At least 11 people, including two women and a child, were killed and 10 others injured in a Maoist attack in Bihar’s Jamui district, police said Thursday.

According to a police official, more than 150 armed Maoists went on a rampage in Phulwaria village late Wednesday. The village is 150 km from here.

“Bodies of 11 villagers have been found including three with gun injuries and others who died in a bomb blast,” Additional Director General of Police U.S. Dutt told IANS.

Eight of those killed were tribals, Bihar Police Chief Anand Shankar said.

The guerrillas also set several houses ablaze and abducted more than half a dozen villagers.

Jamui Superintendent of Police Rakesh Rathi said that a search operation has been launched against Maoists and security forces had been deployed in the village.

Dutt described the incident as revenge killing because the villagers were not supporting the Maoists.

The Bihar police chief along with Principal Secretary Amir Subhani visited the village Thursday. They will submit a report on the incident to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

“There was no lapse on the part of police for it,” Shankar said

Subhani said the state government has announced a compensation of Rs.1 lakh to the kin of each of the victim and Rs.20,000 to Rs.50,000 to the injured.

Police also suspect the incident was related to the alleged killing of eight Maoist guerrillas Feb 1.

A strike was called by Maoists Wednesday in five districts of Banka, Bhagalpur, Jamui, Munger and Lakhisarai to denounce the alleged killing of guerrillas by police with the help of villagers.

The Maoists alleged that eight Maoists were killed by police and their bodies dumped at an unknown place.