By IANS
Ranchi : Maoists struck again in Jharkhand by killing five more people in Latehar district, hours after they killed 18 people, including former chief minister Babulal Marandi’s son, in Giridih district, the police said Sunday.
“Five civilians were killed in Boda village of Latehar (district) Saturday night by Maoists. The rebels had accused the victims of being coal smugglers and police informers,” said R.K. Mallik, spokesperson of Jharkhand police. Latehar is over 100 km from Ranchi.
According to the police, the five people were first abducted from their villages and killed in the nearby jungles late at night.
On Saturday, the rebels killed 18 people, including Marandi’s son Anup, while they were watching a cultural programme in a village in Giridih district.
Maoist rebels are active in 18 of the state’s 24 districts. Nearly 950 people, including 310 security personnel, have lost their lives in Maoist related violence in Jharkhand.