Twelve proscribed Communist Party of India (Maoist) activists were killed in an encounter with police when they attacked Dumri police station in Gaya in the wee hours Sunday.

Deputy Inspector General of Magadh Range Arvind Pandey said a large number of extremists attacked the Dumri police station Saturday night and exploded bombs following which police personnel opened fire on them in self-defence.

Pandey said the extremists had laid landmines on approching roads of the police station to ensure that no reinforcement of the police forces could reach from district headquarters.

He said although it took sometime to send additional security forces at the spot, the police personnel present in the police station successfully challanged the naxals and killed 12 extremists.

Pandey said police superintendent of Gaya, Amit Jain was camping at the spot with police forces to keep an eye on the situation.

Earlier, a large number of naxlites had attacked the Jehanabad jail and succeeded in freeing its inmates on November 13, 2005.

Around 280 prisoners were freed by the naxlites during the incident.