RANCHI: In poll bound Jharkhand, suspected rebels of People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a breakaway faction of the CPI Maoists, gunned down seven people, reportedly members of Shanti Sena , a local Hindu outfit, in Gumla district on Monday evening. Jharkhand police spokesman Anurag Gupta said: "As per the reports I have received till now, seven people have been killed by PLFI rebels".

Assembly polls are scheduled in Gumla on November 25 for which BJP, Congress and other parties have even announced candidates. No immediate reason, political or otherwise, has been found behind the incident so far.

PLFI rebels opened indiscriminate firing from all sides on a SUV in which seven members of Shanti Sena were traveling at around 6.30pm. "The place where the incident occurred is covered in dense forest in which PLFI rebels were hiding in ambush," said a police officer. The incident occurred between Harup and Rewra villages under Kamdara police station area. A source however said these members were supporting police action against PLFI for which PLFI targeted them.

"Police have reached the spot and started a combing operation. The rebels fled the spot immediately. Details of recoveries will be known later," Gupta said.

A source said none of the seven people got a chance to escape as they were ambushed from all the sides. "Those who tried to run for cover were the first to die," said a police officer.

