Patna, Dec 17 (IANS) At least 25 policemen lost their lives while three rebels were killed in gunbattles with police in Bihar this year, an official said Thursday.
“Twenty-five policemen were killed in 16 encounters (gunbattles) with Maoists in Bihar so far this year. Only three Maoists were killed in these encounters,” Inspector General of Police (Operations) K.S. Dwivedi said.

The figures are till the first week of December.

In the same period, 26 people were killed in 110 violent attacks by the Maoists in the state.

According to police records, 21 policemen and 31 rebels were killed in 26 gunbattles with Maoists in 2008. In the same period, 43 people were killed in 76 violent incidents by Maoists in the state.

Maoist guerillas also looted 28 guns from police during attacks on police stations and patrolling teams in 2009.

Dwivedi said 384 Maoists were arrested during operations this year and 105 arms and huge quantities of ammunition were recovered from Maoists.

Over a dozen districts in Bihar are regarded as Maoists strongholds.