Patna, Aug. 3: Residents of about six villages in Rohtas district have abandoned their houses and shifted to safer places because of threat to their lives from Maoists.

The armed guerrillas of CPI(Maoist) have reportedly threatened the residents of Banda and its adjoining villages under Nauhatta and Shivsagar police stations of the district with dire consequences for allegedly extending support to the splinter group led by Sugreev Singh Kharwar.

Sources in the police headquarters said the inhabitants of Pandav, Shivsagar, Auraria, Budhwakala, Udarga, Kusumba and Bhurunda villages had been threatened by the supporters of self-proclaimed zonal commander of Sone-Vindhyachal zone Birendra Yadav alias Rana, who was murdered allegedly by his rival group at Baulia village under Chutia police station on June 30.

The Maoists killed three persons, including the brother of Sugreev, at Banda village on July 30 to retaliate the killing of Rana, who was wanted by the police of three states — Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Sugreev invited the wrath of the Maoists for motivating nine activists to surrender before the police on July 9.

Rohtas superintendent of police Manu Maharaj said the residents of three villages — Kusumba, Auriyari and Banda — have been shifted from security point of view. “The residents have been provided adequate security,” he added.

The SP said the residents, who abandoned their houses, have been shifted to Sadokhar, Chenari and Bairia as the police have launched intensive combing operation against the Maoists in the entire region.