Ranchi, April 17: Four Maoists were gunned down in a fierce encounter with security forces in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district on Friday, according to police officials.

The gunfight occurred in the Batuka forest area, falling under the Keredari police station jurisdiction, after security forces acted on an intelligence tip-off. One of the Maoists killed has been identified as Sahdeo Mahto, a wanted extremist with a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head.

Pawan Kumar, the SDPO of Barkagaon, confirmed the deaths, stating, "Four Maoists were neutralized in the operation. Thankfully, no security personnel were injured during the encounter."