Maoists kill 11 in Bihar village (Second Lead)

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

According to a police official, more than 150 armed Maoists attacked Phulwaria village in Jamui, about 150 km from here, late Wednesday, and killed 11 villagers.

“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 the 11 villagers killed by Maoists were tribals, Bihar Police Chief Anand Shankar said.

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

Jamui Superintendent of Police Rakesh Rathi said that a combing operation had been launched against Maoists and security forces had been deployed in the village to provide protection to the villagers.

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

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 Bihar districts, including Banka, Bhagalpur, Jamui, Munger and Lakhisarai, to denounce the alleged killing of guerrillas by police with the help of villagers.

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