New Delhi  - At least five people - four villagers and a Maoist rebel commander - were killed in two attacks in India's eastern state of Jharkhand, news reports said Tuesday.

Four locals were killed and six were seriously injured when two motorcycle-borne suspected Maoist militants targeted a dance late Monday at a village in the northern district of Chatra, the NDTV network reported.

The victims, who included a former militant who had organized the function, died at the scene about 200 kilometres north of the state capital, Ranchi. A teenaged girl was among those critically injured, the report said.

In another incident Monday, a Maoist commander was killed in a gunbattle with a rival group in the state's Latehar district.

Jharkhand, which is among the Indian states most affected by the Maoist insurgency, has a number of Maoist groups that are engaged in a turf war with each other.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently said left-wing extremism posed the greatest internal security threat for India.

The rebels, who say they are leading an armed rebellion to secure the rights of the poor and marginalized, operate in 20 of India's 28 states. They usually target security personnel and government installations and officials.

At least 2,671 people - including civilians, security personnel and rebels - have been killed in incidents related to Maoist violence in India since 2006, according to Home Ministry data. (dpa)