Naxal killed in shoot-out in Bijapur district

A Naxal was killed by the security forces during a search operation in the Maoist-hit Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place in the forest between Tamodi and Madpal villages under Mirtur police station limits last evening, Bijapur Deputy Superintendent of Police Sukhnandan Rathore said over phone.

A joint team of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), a specialised unit of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and district police force were on a combing operation in the Gangalur, Mirtur and Bhairmagarh region, located around 450 km away from the state capital Raipur, he said.

Naxals started firing on them in the forest of Tamodi-Madpal, and a fierce exchange of fire took place, the DSP said.

The ultras later withdrew to the inner area of forest. Apart from a dead Naxal, a .303 rifle, a muzzle loading gun, live cartridges and some Naxal literature were recovered from the spot.

The deceased Naxal was yet to be identified, Rathore said.