Ranchi, Jan 9 (IANS) Three Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district Sunday, police said.

‘Three hardcore Maoist guerrillas were killed in the gun battle. The bodies have been recovered and three rifles seized,’ a spokesperson of the Jharkhand Police told IANS.

The killed rebels were identified as Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) zonal commander Praven Manjhi, sub-zonal commander Dharmendra and area commander Prasant.

The state police and paramilitary troopers launched a massive combing operation Saturday in the bordering areas of Hazaribagh and Bokaro.

The gunfight took place at Hurlum forests in Hazaribagh district, about 160 km from heer. It began late Saturday and ended early Sunday.