By IANS
Ranchi : Maoist rebels have killed four members of its breakaway group in Lathear district of Jharkhand, police said Tuesday.
"Maoists raided a village and abducted four members of Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) on Monday night. They were later killed in the jungles of Lather district," Jharkhand's Director General of Police, J.B. Mahapatra told IANS.
Around 50 activists of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-M) raided a village in Chnadwa jungle, 130 km from Ranchi, and abducted four members of TPC. The TPC members were later killed with sharp edged weapons.
"The killing is outcome of fight for collection of levy from the coal traders. Earlier members of CPI-M were abducted by the TPC over fight for levy collection. And the killing is outcome of retaliation of CPI-Maoist," said Mahapatra.
Last month, CPI-M members had also killed nine TPC members in Lathear district. TPC is a breakaway group of CPI-Maoist that was formed last year after differences over ideology and their name means third preparation committee.
Maoist rebels are active in 18 of the 22 districts of the state. Nearly 740 persons including 290 security personnel have been killed in last six years in Maoist related violence.