Gaya, Dec. 24: A suspected Maoist was killed during an encounter with a combined team of security personnel at Naudiha village under Atri police station area in the district last night.

The deceased was identified as Pancham alias Panchanan Paswan, a resident of Naudiha village in Atri under Nimchak Bathani sub-division of the district.

The police sent his body to Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital today for post-mortem. Later, the body was handed over to his relatives.

Gaya city superintendent of police Satyaveer Singh told The Telegraph that the cops had received information about the presence of a Maoist, Vidhayak Yadav, along with 15 armed rebels at Naudiha village.

Acting on the tip-off, a security team, led by assistant superintendent of police (Naxalite operations) Shambhu Prasad, raided the village around 8pm.

The team comprised Special Task Force and district armed police jawans. On seeing the security personnel, the Maoists fired at them.

The police retaliated and the encounter lasted for about an hour.

Additional reinforcement, led by additional superintendent of police Shafiul Haque, rushed to the village along with CoBRA jawans.

Pancham’s body was found from the encounter site. The police found a country-made gun and five cartridges near his body.