From correspondents in Jharkhand, India, 12:32 AM IST

Three Maoist rebels were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Chatra district of Jharkhand Wednesday, police said.

According to police, the gun battle took place near Bhopadih village of Chatra district, around 190 km away from Ranchi. The police raided the village on a tip-off. The Maoist rebels retaliated with gun fire when security forces asked them to surrender.

The police also arrested two Maoists.

The killed rebels include Ganesh Ganju, sub-zonal commander of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist). The Police recovered one carbine, one pistol, explosives and Maoist literature from the site.

Maoist rebels are active in 18 of the state's 24 districts. As many as 644 civilians and 320 security personnel have died in Maoist-related violence since Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)