Maoists raid village, 15 killed

NEW DELHI, Monday (AFP) - At least 15 people were killed when more than 100 suspected Maoists raided a village Monday in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, a report said Monday.

The attack took place in Giridih district, the Press Trust of India news agency said, citing Neeraj Sinha, Jharkhand's deputy inspector general of police.

Jharkhand is known to be a hotbed of Maoist insurgency.Last week, 23 paramilitary soldiers were killed in a blast triggered by suspected Maoist rebels in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

Maoists have strongholds in at least five of India's 29 states, including the eastern states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.