Raipur: Three naxals were on Saturday gunned down by security forces at separate places in Chhattisgarh's Bastar division.
While two cadres were killed in Bastar district, another was eliminated in Bijapur, police said.
In Bastar, the skirmish took place early this morning in restive Sanguel forest under Burgum police station area between a joint team of security personnel and ultras, Bastar
Superintendent of Police R N Dash said.
"There was input from local informers that a group of rebels was heading towards Bastanar valley after crossing Indravati river to receive a top maoist leader. The same information was also with the state intelligence branch," he said.
Acting on the inputs, a composite squad comprising District Reserve Group (DRG), Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and district force launched an anti-naxal operation in the region, located around 400 kms from here.
Security forces confronted the Maoists in the forests near Sanguel village following which a heavy gun-battle broke out.
The exchange of fire lasted for about an hour after which rebels escaped to core forest, he said.
"During searches of the area, bodies of two male Maoists, a 12 bore rifle and one SBML (single barrel muzzle loading) gun besides several other items were recovered from the spot," Dash said.
The seized items include explosives,?detonators, pipe bombs, codex wire, bags, magazine pouch, battery, electric wire and others, he added.
"As per preliminary information, the naxals group reportedly belonged to Barsur Area Committee of Maoists and the same squad with which police had another exchange of
firing in August last month," he said, adding that the identity of the killed ultras was being ascertained.
