Two naxals killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, August 1: Two Maoists were today killed in a gunfight with security forces in the dense forests of Bastar district, police said.

"The skirmish took place in the evening in the restive Chandometa village forests, bordering Odisha, under Darbha police station limits of the district when a joint team of security forces was carrying out an anti-naxal operation," Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) SRP Kalluri said over phone.

Based on specific inputs, composite forces of DRG (District Reserve Group), STF (Special Task Force) and district force had launched the operation on July 27 towards Chandometa forests bordering Odisha's Tulsi village which is considered as a naxal den, he said.

Chandometa is located around 55 kms away from Darbha police station of Bastar, which lies at a distance of about 370 kms from the state capital Raipur.

"Today, when security forces were cordoning off forests at the bottom of Chandometa hill, a gun-battle broke out between both the sides after a group of cadres opened fire on them," the officer said.

During the search following the encounter, bodies of two male Maoists besides a huge cache of explosives, two SBML (single barrel muzzle loading) rifles and various other naxal-related items were recovered from the spot, the IG said.

Of the killed, one cadre was identified as Ganga, a Jan Militia commander of Chandometa area, while the identity of the other one was being ascertained.

"Earlier during the past three days of operation, there were exchange of fire between security forces and ultras four times in the interiors of Darbha while one IED blast was also triggered by the naxals," the IG said, adding that no harm was reported to security forces in any of the face-offs. The search party is still in the forest.

PTI