RAIPUR: A Naxal was gunned down today in a fierce encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, police said.
With this, 25 ultras have so far been killed in separate gun-battles in Bastar region this year, they said. The encounter took place between the District Reserve Group (DRG) and the ultras in a forested hill of Korli under Mardum police station limits this morning, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, SRP Kalluri said.
Acting on a tip-off about the movement of rebels, a team of DRG led by sub-inspector P K Shukla had launched an anti-Naxal operation in the interiors of Mardum, around 400 kms from the state capital Raipur, he said.
When they were cordoning-off the forested hill in Korli area, a group of armed cadres opened indiscriminate fire on them following which a gun-battle broke out between the two sides, the IG said. However, after a brief exchange of fire, the Naxals fled into the dense forests, he said.
During search, the body of a Maoist, a muzzle loading gun rifle and other items of daily use were recovered from the spot, he said. The identity of the killed Maoist will be ascertained once the security personnel return to their camp as the operation was underway in the region, he added.