2 Maoists, constable killed in encounter

Two suspected Maoists and a constable of the Chhattisgarh Special Task Force were killed in an encounter near Barsur in Dantewada district Friday.

Police recovered two country-made guns, an 8 mm pistol and other minor weapons from the suspected Maoists. The deceased constable, Budh Dev, was a resident of Balod. “A joint team comprising STF and district force left the Barsur police station for a special operation Thursday night,” said ADG Naxal (ops) R K Vij. The forces had an encounter with the Maoists inside the forests near Picchikoder village Friday morning, and firing lasted nearly 30 minutes. The forces managed to defuse an IED and recovered pressure bombs from the area, Vij added.

Bastar has seen a sudden spurt in encounters in recent months.