Ranchi Mar 26 PTI Three Naxalites were shot dead by the security forces at a forest in Jharkhands Latehar district on Saturday morning police said The Naxalites belonged to Tritiya Prastuti Committee TPC -- a CPI Maoist breakaway factionThe identification of the dead Naxalites is being done through various sources According to preliminary information it was known that among the three deceased one was sub-zonal commander and another person was area commander of the banned outfit Homkar saidPolice claimed that a few more Naxalites were injured in the gunfight in Kawakhar forest as bloodstains were spotted at different locations of the forestThe police had a tip-off that an armed squad of TPC led by its leaders Rakesh Ganjhu Rajesh Oraon Nathuni and Jitendra Yadav would meet at Hesalwar and Marwar forests of the districtA joint team of Jharkhand police and Jharkhand Jaguar were sent to carry out a search operation in the area on Saturday morningIn Kawakhar forest the Naxalites fired at the police party which retaliated in self-defence Homkar said The officer said that when the gunfight came to an end a search operation was carried out in the forest area following which the three bodies were recoveredThe police also claimed of having recovered a self-loading rifle cartridges and ammunition storage devices from the spotMeanwhile a CPI Maoist area commander Vimal Lohra alias Bimal Pahan who was wanted in 12 different cases surrendered before the security forces in Khunti district on SaturdayThe Jharkhand Police along with central armed forces have been carrying out an operation against Maoists in Lohardaga Latehar and Gumla districts since February 8Till now nine Maoists have been arrested four ultras have been killed and five Naxalites have surrendered PTI SAN NAM MM MM