Around 125 heavily-armed ultras stormed the village last night, set afire houses and then opened fire, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Bhagalpur range) Amit Kumar, said.
Four of a family were charred to death in a blazing hut while others died of gunshot injuries. The deceased belonged to the Kora tribe.
The attack was said to be in retaliation against the recent killings of eight activists of the proscribed CPI (Maoist) allegedly by the villagers, according to leaflets left by the ultras at the spot
The attack comes close on the heels of the Maoists attack an a EFR camp in West Bengal's West Midnapore district that left 24 jawans dead.