Two Naxalites, including a woman, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.
The encounter took place around 5am at a forest in Gonderas village when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF) was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, Deputy Inspector General (Anti-Naxal operations) Sundarraj P. told PTI.
The patrolling team was moving through Gonderas, located along the border of Dantewada-Sukma districts, when a group of ultras fired at them, leading to the gun battle, he said.
After the exchange of fire stopped, bodies of two Naxalites, including a woman, were recovered from the spot along with an INSAS rifle and a 12-bore gun, the DIG said.
also read
- Chhattisgarh Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Congress fields Bhupesh Baghel, Shivkumar Dahariya, others to challenge BJP; check out full list
- Chhattisgarh: Monthly cash scheme for women notified; first installment right ahead of LS polls
- 3 CRPF personnel killed, 14 injured in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh
- Bihar: Congress deputes Bhupesh Baghel to 'coordinate Nyay Yatra and party activities'
Ammunition, Maoist literature, items of daily use and other Naxalite-related material were also seized from the spot, he said. Those killed are yet to be identified, he said.
The incident took place around 450km from the state capital Raipur.
"No harm was reported to the security personnel in the gunfight. Search operation is under way in the area," he added.