Five suspected Maoists arrested in Bihar

Five suspected Maoists were arrested in Bihar's Simharua village during a police raid Monday, said a police officer.

The arrested Maoists were allegedly involved in the killing of seven people in the state's Aurangabad district, police said.

Some arms and ammunition were also recovered from their possession, said Aurangabad Superintendent of Police Upendra Sharma.

"Combing operations have been intensified against Maoists in the district," he said.

Seven people, including Sunil Pandey - a former commander of the outlawed Ranvir Sena which is a private army of upper caste landlords - were killed Oct 20 in a landmine blast in Bihar's Aurangabad district.

Pandey was on the hit list of Maoists and they had threatened to kill him after he was released from jail recently.

The banned CPI-Maoist has already claimed that the people's guerrilla army carried out the strike to avenge the killing of innocent persons by the Ranvir Sena.

For the blast, police lodged the first information report (FIR) against seven people who were named and 50 "unknown" people.

Aurangabad and its neighbouring districts Gaya, Arwal and Jehanabad are considered Maoists stronghold.