Daijiworld Media Network - Bijapur

Bijapur, Feb 26: Two Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Thursday morning, police officials said.

The gunfight broke out in a forested stretch along the Indravati River when a joint team of security personnel was carrying out an anti-Naxalite operation. According to police, the exchange of fire continued for several hours before it subsided.

After the operation, security forces recovered the bodies of two uniformed Maoists from the encounter site.

Arms and ammunition seized from the spot included a self-loading rifle (SLR), an INSAS rifle and a 12-bore firearm, officials confirmed.

Earlier on January 3, security forces had neutralised 14 Maoists in two separate encounters in the Bastar region.

Police data indicates that 285 Maoists were killed in separate encounters across the state last year as counter-insurgency operations intensified.

The Centre has set March 31 as the deadline to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism from the country, stepping up coordinated operations in affected districts.