By IANS
Patna : Two people were killed and as many injured when Maoist rebels attacked a Bihar village, police officials said Thursday.
Armed Maoists raided Maniyarpur village in East Champaran district, about 250 km from this state capital, near the Nepal border late Wednesday night, police sources said.
According to police officials, frightened villagers said over 100 armed Maoists attacked the village, killing two people and injuring two others.
"Maoist also set ablaze vehicles and looted some houses minutes before they fled," said police officials.
"Maoist rebels attacked the village in search of a farmer who was a witness in a case related to killing by Maoists of a rich and powerful farmer Maheshwar Singh, two years ago," police officials added.
Police have launched an operation to arrest rebels of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist).
In the past months Maoists have attacked several places in rural Bihar. They had killed a number of policemen and looted arms in the state. The Maoists' spreading network in districts along the Indo-Nepal border is causing alarm as it poses a serious challenge to the governments of both the countries.