DHAKA: Twelve suspected Maoist rebels were killed in an encounter with the police in Bihar’s Palamu district in the early Tuesday.

The incident took place around 2:30am (Indian Time) in Bakoria village, about 140 kilometres from state capital Ranchi, reports the NDTV.

The police had received a tip-off that the rebels would be traveling in a Mahindra Scorpio through the area. Accordingly, a team of the specialized COBRA battalion and the district police were rushed to the spot.

As the vehicle approached the area, security personnel who were lying in wait, tried to stop it. On seeing the security personnel, the suspected men got down from the vehicle and opened fire. The security personnel retaliated and 12 Naxals were killed in the exchange that lasted for over an hour.

Additional Director General of Police (Operation) SN Pradhan said “Right now, we have recovered 12 bodies of the Naxals including the body of RKji who is a zonal commander and close to the supremo Arvindji who's a Communist Centre member.”
 
Eight weapons, including an INSAS rifle, were recovered from the spot, police said.

BDST: 1621 HRS, JUNE 09, 2015
BD/