Three Maoists gunned down in encounter

RAIPUR: Three Maoists were gunned down in an encounter with security forces on Saturday in Bastar and Bijapur districts. The operation was conducted by joint forces of district guards, district force and Chhattisgarh armed force. Bodies of the ultras were recovered along with large number of weapons and explosives.
The gun-battle took place early in morning in forests of Sanguel in Bastar when the forces were out on combing operation.According to Bastar SP RN Dash, the forces went into the forest based on an input received from local informers about movement of Maoists from Bastanar region to meet a top Maoist leader. The inputs matched with the info received from intelligence bureau.
"A joint team of District Reserve Guards, Chhattisgarh Armed Force and District Force were pressed into anti-Maoist operation when they were attacked by Maoists and forces retaliated leading to a gun-battle for about an hour. Later, the rebels fled into the forest leaving bodies of slain uniformed Maoists," SP said. During the search, one 12-bore rifle and one SBML (single barrel muzzle loading) gun besides several other items were recovered from the spot. The recovered items include explosives, detonators, pipe bombs, codex wire, bags, magazine pouch, battery, electric wire and others, he added.
The Maoists reportedly belonged to Barsur Area Committee of Maoists and the same squad with which police had exchange fire in August last month, he said adding that the identity of the killed ultras was being ascertained. According to the SP, the same group had allegedly targeted police personnel at the weekly market of Burgum on 1st October, 2015 where a constable Manarau Benjam was killed.
Subsequently, another rebel was killed in a separate encounter in Rengawaya village near Bedre of Bijapur when a joint team of DRG and district police were out on search operation.
The armed Maoists opened indiscriminate firing when the forces retaliated.
The body of a male Maoist along with one 12-bore gun, two muzzle loading guns, one hand grenade, 25-30 live rounds of ammunition of 12-bore gun, and a huge cache of explosives and daily uses items was recovered from the spot, police said.