Maoists gun down three in West Bengal

Three villagers were shot dead by suspected Maoist guerrillas in West Bengal's violence-hit West Midnapore district on Friday night. The bodies were recovered from a forest area in the district early Saturday, police said.

"We have received reports about the recovery of the bodies. Our forces are moving in to the spot," district police superintendent Manoj Verma said.

The incident took place near Kushbon forest region under Binpur police station areas.

A group of locals first spotted three blood-stained bodies lying on the ground.

According to police, Jairam, Manoranjan and Laxmi Das were killed by the Maoist guerrillas as they were active members of the Gano Pratirodh Committee (people's resistance group) formed to combat growing Maoist violence in the district.

Maoist rebels have already owned responsibility for the killings. A few Maoist literature and posters were recovered from the spot.