A Naxalite was killed when two underground outfits clashed in the forests of Latehar district, police said today.

The body of Pradeep Ganju, the self-styled sub-zonal commander of the Jharkhand Prastuti Committee (JPC) was recovered from Beajhanga forest in the district this morning, superintendent of police Kuldip Diwedi told newsmen here.

The JPC and the Trititya Prastuti Committee (TPC), both said to be breakaway groups of the CPI (Maoist), exchanged gunfire for over an hour yesterday, leading to Ganju's death on the spot, he said.