Six sympathisers of the dreaded Akhilesh Singh gang were killed by armed members of rival Ashok Mahato gang at village Manipur in Bihar's Sheikhpura district on Saturday night, a senior police official said.
Unofficial sources, however, put the death toll at nine.
Superintendent of Police Abhay Mishra said that he had received information about six deaths from his deputy at the spot.
Sophisticated weapon-wielding members of the Ashok Mahato gang swooped on the village at around 11 PM and mowed down six persons, he said.
The incident is believed to be in retaliation of the killing of nine alleged supporters of Mahato gang by Akhilesh Singh group in adjoining Goachak village of neighbouring Nalanda district on Thursday, Mishra said.
A combing operation has been launched to apprehend those involved in the gang war after sealing the entry and exit points of Sheikhpura district, he added.