Maoists injure four in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum District

Four persons, including two women were injured when Maoists indiscriminately opened fire during a tribal festival at Bandgaon village in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.

The injured have been admitted to a civil hospital for further treatment.

Rani Bodra, 14, escaped with minor injury on face while her mother suffered serious injury.

"Suddenly they began firing, I was hit. We didn't see them. My mother was also hit. I am trying to arrange medical treatment for her. They ran away," said Rani Bodra.

The rebels were looking for their absconding colleague, who also got injured in the firing.

The Maoist insurgents are estimated to number around 7000 hardcore fighters in nearly a third of India's 630 districts. While they have made few inroads into cities, they have spread into rural pockets in 20 of 28 states.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decribed Naxalism as the gravest internal security challenge to the nation.