NEW DELHI, April 15 (UPI) -- India says its border troops Wednesday fought off a concerted pre-election attack by about 200 suspected Maoist rebels in Bihar state.
The Indian home ministry said a pitched battle lasted some seven hours and was apparently aimed at disrupting Thursday's voting in the first round of the general elections.
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Officials told CNN that rebels attacked a Border Security base in an area of eastern India that has been the scene of Maoist raids in the past.
The ministry said 10 or 12 rebels were killed or wounded in the pre-dawn fighting. There was no word on government casualties.
