Chhattisgarh: Two security personnel killed in encounter with Maoists

Two security personnel were killed and as many injured in an exchange of fire with suspected Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Friday, police said. 

The skirmish took place near Cherli village under Mirtur police station limits when a joint team of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and district police was out on a road security operation, IG (in-charge), Bastar Range, Sundarraj P told PTI. 

The team was on patrolling duty to ensure security of the under-construction Gangaloor-Mirtur road. As they were cordoning-off a patch near Cherli, around 450km from Raipur, the security personnel came under heavy firing from a group of ultras, leading to a fierce gun-battle, the IG said, adding the Maoists fled the spot soon after, he said. 

"Constable Hemant Kumar, belonging to CAF's 10th battalion and district force's assistant constable, Gubba Ram, were killed, while two other jawans were injured," Sundarraj said.

The injured have been identified as CAF constable Sahdev Rajwade and district force's assistant constable Muddaram, he said. Reinforcement was rushed to the spot, he said, adding efforts are on to evacuate the injured personnel and bring the bodies of Kumar and Ram out of the forest.