Another person was wounded in the shooting in the state of Jharkhand, state home secretary J.B. Tubid told reporters.

The rebels, from the outlawed Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), also threw two bombs at a railway junction in the state's Lohardagga area, 120 kilometresmiles) west of the state capital Ranchi, but caused no casualties.

They also detonated a landmine in the state's Hazaribagh area, 150 kilometres north of Ranchi.

The Maoists had called for a dawn-to-dusk strike to protest the war, but the call was only partially heeded, Tubid said. Only some vehicles stayed off the roads and most people attended work, he said.

The MCC is fighting the state government to demand better wages for labourers as well as land for poor farmers.

SPACE.WIRE