Sitamarhi: One person was killed and 12 injured, four seriously, when activists of the banned Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) opened indiscriminate fire and exploded bombs at Barahi village in Bihar's Sitamarhi district last night (Apr 11, 2004). Superintendent of Police K C Surendra Babu said that around 100 naxalites had come to the village in three jeeps and a mini-bus with ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) flags and posters of party president Laloo Prasad Yadav pasted on them around 10 pm and opened indiscriminate fire and burst bombs killing one Ratnesh Singh and wounding 12 others.

They also shouted 'MCC Zindabad' and 'Laloo Yadav Zindabad' before leaving.

The SP said the injured were admitted to the Sadar hospital where condition of four was reported critical.

Police suspected the ultras used the ruling party's flags and posters to camouflage their identity.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed in the area as villagers refused to allow the police team headed by Babu to enter the village and forced the SP to retreat when he reached there last night.

The incident is believed to be in retaliation for the killing of three bank dacoits in an encounter with the police at Barahi where the villagers had played an active role.

Suresh Singh, brother of slain Ratnesh Singh, had recently submitted a memorandum to the district authorities seeking posting of a police contingent at the village after receiving threats from the outlawed MCC to avenge the killing of the dacoits suspected to have naxalite connections.