PATNA: Jainandan Yadav, a prime accused in the recent killing of 12 Dalits at Duttmai and Mataurha villages in Patna district, was killed along with his henchman in an encounter on Thursday, the police said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravindra Kumar said a police patrol party chased a Tata-Sumo speeding towards Gaya from Patna when the driver of Sumo ignored the signal given by the patrol party to stop the vehicle for checking. When the police vehicle approached the Sumo, criminals opened fire on policemen leading to the encounter, he said.

Jainandan Yadav along with his goon was killed on the spot, Kumar said. Jainanadan was wanted in several criminal offences. He had earlier broken away from the outlawed People's War Group (PWG) and raised his own notorious gang responsible for the recent massacre of 12 Dalits in Duttmai and Mataurha.

Opposition parties in Bihar had picked up the issue of the killing of Dalits and demanded dismissal of the Rabri Devi ministry.