NEW DELHI, March 4: Maoist rebels shot dead a federal MP and five others Sunday while they attended celebrations of the Hindu festival of Holi in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, police said.

Parliamentarian Sunil Mahto was killed instantly in the attack, which occurred in the village of Pakuria, 150 kilometres south of state capital Ranchi, local police chief Pankaj Darad said.

He said the high-profile member of the Indian parliament’s lower house was ambushed during a soccer tournament to mark the Holi spring festivities.

“The Maoists disguised as spectators and Holi revellers opened fire, killing the MP and his men,” Darad said.

It is the first time Maoist guerillas, waging a campaign against feudal landlords in 15 of India's 29 states, have assassinated a national-level politician.

Darad said five people, including Mahto's security personnel, were also killed when the left-wing rebels opened fire on the MP, who was attending the Holi soccer tournament.—AFP