Six naxalites killed in encounter in Bihar''s Banka district

Banka, Feb 26 (PTI) Six Naxalites were today gunneddown by security forces during a five-hour encounter inMajhidih village in Bihar''s Banka district, police said.

About twelve heavily-armed Naxalites, who were holedup in a house, opened fire on CRPF and SAP jawans after beingasked to surrender, the Acting Superintendent of Police (SP)B K Das said.

The security forces retaliated killing six Naxalitesand also destroyed the house where the ultras were hiding, hesaid.

The encounter lasted for about five hours, Das said.

A Naxalite, identified as Devan Tuddu -- a native ofKaithavaran village, has been arrested, while about ten othersescaped, he said, adding one SLR was recovered from the siteof the encounter.

There was no casualty among the security personnel, hesaid.

The security forces have launched a combing operationin the nearby forces where some of the Naxalites might haveescaped, Das said.