Ten persons were shot dead in two districts of Bihar in the worst incidents of gang war since the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar came to power about eight months ago.
"Nine persons were shot dead by members of Akhilesh Singh gang armed with sophisticated weapons at Gochak in Bihar's Nalanda district," Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Abhayanand said.
Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar said the killing was in retaliation for the gunning of a sympathiser of the upper caste Akhilesh Singh gang at Barbigha village in Sheikhpura district by rival Ashok Mahato gang on Friday morning.
Both Ashok Mahato and Akhilesh Singh gangs are locked in a war of attrition in Bihar's Nalanda, Sheikhpura and Nawada districts for long.
Senior district officials, including the SP rushed to the spot and a combing operation has been launched. Reinforcements were also rushed from Patna to Nalanda to intensify the combing operation.