The bodies of three Kharwar tribals, shot dead by Naxals in Bihar's Rohtas district on Saturday night, were recovered on Sunday, Bihar Director General of Police Neelmani said.
The incident occurred at the Kharwar-dominated Banda village, nestled in the Kaimur hills. Residents of the village, which is situated about 230 km. north-west from here, have been consistently opposing Naxals since 2007.
This is the second such incident within a month. On July 2, six Koda tribals were killed in Munger district.
Over 50 extremists descended from the Kaimur hills and set fire to the house of the former mukhiya, Sugreev Kharwar. He had been vocal against Naxals for impeding development works in the area. Police sources believe that the Banda murders are a direct retaliation to the recent killing of Birendra Rana Yadav, a self-styled Naxal zonal commander, and the surrender of nine Naxals in the area a fortnight ago.
According to Mr. Neelmani, the Kharwars played an active role in both the incidents.
He said the incident bore a striking parallel to the killings of 12 tribal men, women and children by powerful Yadav Naxal leaders in Jamui district's Phulwaria-Korasi village in February last year.
A joint combing operation has been launched in the area by the Kaimur police in conjunction with the Bihar Military Police and Central forces.
