Kolkata, Feb 1 (IANS) Eleven people, eight policemen and three Maoists, were injured in a gun battle that broke out after rebels attacked a police station in West Bengal's Bankura district Monday.

Bankura police superintendent Bishal Garg told IANS over phone that a large number of heavily armed Maoists attacked the Barikul police station from two flanks and started firing.

The police returned the fire and a gun battle ensued, Garg said.

Eight policemen were injured in the attack. Three Maoists were wounded in police firing.

'The Maoists fled when they realised they cannot match the police's firepower. But we are alert. They may attack again,' Garg said.

The police have recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition and landmines from the area.

The attack seems part of the Maoists' latest strategy to engage the police in districts other than their bastion West Midnapore, where they are under lot of pressure from the joint security forces of the central and state governments deployed against them.

On Sunday, the Maoists attacked a police posse in Purulia district, injuring eight policemen. On Monday, they blew up a mobile telephone tower in Birbhum district.