By IANS
Ranchi : Three Maoist rebels have been killed in a fierce gun battle with security forces in Jharkhand’s Palamau district, the police said Saturday.
According to the police, three members of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) were killed in Chainpur hills of Palamau district, nearly 190 km from here, Friday night. The gun battle continued for three hours.
The gunfight took place when patrolling Jharkhand police and CRPF personnel spotted 10 Maoist rebels.
The police have recovered two rifles, live cartridges and explosives from the slain rebels.
The police said a zonal commander of CPI-Maoist, Mahendra Karwa, was among those killed in the encounter.
Since Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000, 645 civilians, 290 security personnel and 144 Maoist rebels have been killed in the state. Maoist rebels are active in 18 of its 24 districts.