Three members of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) were killed in a gunbattle with the police in Narayanpur district of south Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, the police claimed.
"A joint operation, with forces numbering around 700 comprising the District Reserve Guard, the Special Task Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Force and the Chhattisgarh Armed Force, was planned in Narayanpur district today (Tuesday) morning. At around 9.30 am, when the parties were searching their target areas in Sulenga Tirkanar forest under Dhaurai police station limits, the Maoists opened heavy firing on them. Our men took a position and retaliated with heavy fire and forced the Maoists to flee from the spot. Our parties followed the Maoists up to three kilometers inside the forest but the ultras managed to run away taking advantage of thick forest. Three dead bodies of uniformed Maoists were found after searching the area," Bastar range Inspector General of Police, Mr.SRP Kalluri said in a statement.
"It is estimated that four to five more Maoists have been injured in the encounter and our parties are still searching deep inside the forest for them. All our parties are safe. One INSAS rifle, one 315 rifle and three country-made weapons were also recovered from the spot of the encounter," added Mr. Kalluri.
