Poochandi

January 28, 2011

At least nine Maoist guerrillas were killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Jharkhand's Latehar district early Friday, police said.

"We got information about Maoists' presence in Barwadih jungle late Thursday. Police forces surrounded the jungle and asked Maoists to surrender. The rebels started firing against the police and the encounter lasted till early morning," Kuldip Dwivedi, Superintendent of Police, told a news agency.

"We have recovered nine bodies of Maoists along with a huge quantity of arms and ammunition," Dwivedi said adding that the search operation is still on in the area.