Chhattigsarh: Eight naxals killed in encounter with security forces

At least eight Naxals, including three women were on Thursday gunned down in a fierce encounter with security forces in Chattisgarh’s Bijapur district, police said.

#UPDATE: Body of one more naxal has been found from the site of encounter in Timenar forest area, near Dantewada-Bijapur border. A total of 8 bodies of naxals have been recovered following their encounter with a joint team of DRG-STF. #Chhattisgarh https://t.co/QqcrCeM2LV

— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2018

The face-off took place at around 6 am in the forest near Timinar and Pusnar villages along the border of Bijapur and Dantewada districts when a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) was out on an anti-Maoist operation, state’s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police (anti-naxal operations) Sundarraj P told PTI.

Based on a tip-off, security forces had launched the operation from Dantewada district along the border of two districts, he said.

While they were cordoning off jungles of Timinar and Pusnar villages, located around 450 km away from the state capital Raipur, in Bijapur, the exchange of fire broke out between the two sides, he said.

“After guns fell silent, bodies of seven naxals, including three women, were recovered from the spot,” the DIG said.

Besides, two Insas rifles, two .303 rifles, one 12 bore gun and a few muzzle-loading guns were also recovered from the spot, he said.

Further details are awaited as the search operation was still underway in the area, he added.

(With inputs from PTI)