Bhagalpur, Jan. 18: After a landmine blast triggered in Gaya by Maoists claimed the life of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan yesterday, an innocent villager became a fresh victim of a Naxalite attack in Jamui district on the same day.

The rebels raided Ramdih village after a long-drawn tiff between villagers and them over non-payment of tax that the rebels levied on cutting of trees by the villagers.

Sources said some villagers are involved in illegal cutting of trees in the forests. Ramdih falls under Borba panchayat in Naxalite-hit Jhajha block in Jamui district and is located 21km from the district headquarters.

The incident was reported around 9.30pm when most of the villagers were either sleeping or were having dinner.

Eyewitnesses told The Telegraph that about 25-30 armed Maoists raided the village and started firing indiscriminately after they failed to locate the two villagers reportedly involved in a gang of timber mafia in the area.

Sabdar Ali (32) and Inamul Ansari (25), both natives of Ramdih village, were returning to their houses from Jhajha, when they sustained bullet injuries in the incident.

Ali died on the spot while Ansari was rushed to Jhajha hospital in a critical condition, where doctors referred him to Patna Medical College and Hospital at midnight.