By Mubasshir Mushtaq
MUMBAI, India
At least 12 suspected Maoist militants were killed in a violent clash with police in India's eastern state of Jharkhand in early hours of Tuesday, reported local daily Times of India.
Police officials said they acted on a tip-off that Maoists would be travelling through the Bakoria village, 140 kilometers from state capital Ranchi, in two separate vehicles.
The Maoists reportedly opened fire as police officials tried to stop one of the vehicles, resulting in them being killed by “retaliatory fire.”
The police recovered bodies of the suspected Maoists along with rifles and ammunition while police are searching for the other vehicle, which escaped during the clash.
Tuesday’s anti-Maoist operation was considered a major breakthrough for Indian security forces who have been combing Maoist and separatist-controlled areas of India since the death of 18 soldiers in an ambush in the northeastern state of Manipur last week.
