Naxal killed in encounter with security forces in C'garh

Raipur, Feb 2: A Naxal was today gunned down in a fierce encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Kanker district, police said.

The skirmish took place in the forests of Kesekodi under Koyalibeda police station limits between a joint team of security personnel and ultras, Kanker Superintendent of Police Jitendra Singh Meena told PTI.

A composite team of Border Security Force (BSF), Special Task Force (STF) and district force was carrying out an anti-Naxal operation in the south of Koyalibeda, located around 250 kms away from here, the SP said.

When they were cordoning off a forested patch in Kesekodi, a group of armed cadres opened indiscriminate fire on them following which a gun-battle broke out between the two sides, Meena added.

However, after around an hour of the ensuing gunfight, Naxals fled to the dense forests, he said. During a search, body of a Maoist, one SLR rifle and its magazines were recovered, the official said.

According to the officer, the identity of the killed Maoist will be ascertained once the party will reach back to its camp as the operation was still underway in the region. With this encounter, 24 ultras have so far been killed in separate gun-battles in the Bastar region this year, police said.

PTI