3 Maoists killed, 2 AK-47s seized

Ranchi : Three Maoistss have been killed and arms and ammunition seized in an encounter with security forces in Jhrakhand's Lohardaga district Thursday, officials said.

They said the encounter broke out around 2:45 pm when a joint team of 158th and 214th battalions of CRPF and state police was out for operations in Bahegara village of Bagru area in the district.

Bodies of three Maoists, 2 AK-47 rifles and some ammunition have been recovered by the security forces. The Lohardaga district headquarters is about 74 km from the state capital here.

A search operation was undertaken to look for more cadres, the officials said.

Meanwhile, Maoists on Thursday attacked a man and his son on charges of being "police informers" in Jharkhand's Latehar district and also set ablaze a number of vehicles, police said.

Maoists first carried out the arson in a vehicle parking area near a bus stand early in the day. They set on fire two tractors, a truck and a bike.

Later they beat up Ashok Sao and his son alleging them of being police informers. The injured have been admitted to a hospital, police said.

This year more than 50 vehicles have been torched by the Maoists in the state.