Two security personnel were killed, while at least six others were injured in a five-hour encounter with Naxals in Bheji police station limits in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.
The encounter took place in a forest under the Bhejji police station when a joint team of the Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Guard (DRG) and local police was out on an "area-domination operation", Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Bastar range) Sundarraj P said.
As the team was passing through the forest between Bhejji and Elarmadgu, around 500 km from state capital Raipur, it came under heavy firing from the ultras, leading to the gun-battle, the DIG said.
"Assistant constables Madkam Handa and Mukesh Kadthi of the DRG were killed and six other jawans were injured," the DIG said.
Five teams of the special CRPF unit 202 CoBRA had reached the location after receipt of information.
"The encounter went on for around 5 hours in Sukma's Bheji. Heavy firing took place from both sides. One STF and one DRG soldiers were martyred. Six DRG soldiers have been injured," DM Awasthi, Special DG, anti-Naxal operation told media.
A Maoist has also been shot dead during the shootout. The body has been recovered by the security forces, ANI reported.
The injured soldiers were evacuated to Raipur with the help of air ambulance. Five of the six injured security personnel have reportedly sustained serious injuries.
The encounter comes three days after two Naxals, including a woman, were gunned down by the security forces in an exchange of fire in insurgency-hit Sukma district on Thursday.
In another incident along the stretch between Bhejji and Elarmadgu, where a road construction project is underway, the Naxals killed Anil Kumar, the supervisor of the private contractor, and set vehicles engaged in the road construction work ablaze, Sundarraj said.
The skirmish had taken place late on Thursday night in a forest near Tokanpalli village under Chintagufa police station limits when a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Deputy Inspector General of Police (south Bastar range) Sundarraj P said.
The deceased were identified as Nanda, active as Gangulawa Area Committee member, and the woman- Sanni alias Kunjam Lakkhe, Nagaram LOS (local organisation squad) of Maoists.
Watch video: 2 security personnel martyred, 1 Naxal killed in five-hour long encounter in Chhattisgarh's Sukma
