Bhubaneswar: Eight Maoists were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Saturday.
According to sources, a joint operation was launched in the forest area under Gangaloor police station in the district on Friday following intelligence reports about movement of armed Maoists in the area. The personnel of District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), Cobra 202 and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) carried out the operation.
After extensive search operation in the forest, the security forces spotted a group of armed Maoists on Saturday morning. On sighting the security forces, the Maoists opened fire.
This led to retaliatory fire by the security forces at around 8.30 am. In the exchange of fire, 8 Maoists were killed, the sources said.
“Eight Maoists have been killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces in the jungle under Gangaloor police limits. Search operations are underway,” Hindustan Times quoted police as saying.
Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range Sundarraj P has also confirmed the encounter and death of Left wing ultras.
It may be noted that 48 Maoists have been killed in encounters in Chhattisgarh since January 1. On January 21, as many as 14 Maoists were also killed in an encounter with Chhattisgarh police on the border with Odisha. A top Maoist cadre carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head was also killed in the encounter.
