At least 13 people, including 12 policemen, were killed when Indian Maoist guerrillas attacked three police stations in India's eastern state of Orissa, officials said Saturday.

The police said that more than 500 armed militants simultaneously attacked three police stations, a government armory, a police training center, and some police posts Friday night.

The militants looted a large quantity of arms and ammunitions during their raids, a district police chief said. Their attacks continued till early Saturday, according to report of the Indo- Asian News Service (IANS).

At least 13 people, including 12 policemen, were killed during the shootout between policemen and the militants. Four people were injured and two of them are said to be in critical condition.

The state government has sounded a high alert and hundreds of armed policemen as well as paramilitary forces have been dispatched to the affected regions, IANS report said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2008)