RAIPUR: At least eighteen Maoists and a security personnel were killed in an encounter that broke out in forests of Bijapur district of Bastar division of Chhattisgarh on Thursday. Sources said that the casualty might reach to 20 Maoists killed.
Security forces have recovered 18 bodies along with weapons and explosives from the encounter site.
The jawan killed was a District Reserve Guards personnel and the body was evacuated.
Bastar police said that the encounter is still going on in forests bordering Bijapur and Dantewada districts. A joint team of security forces went out on anti-Naxal operation in Gangaloor area of Bijapur when Maoists opened indiscriminate firing, to which the forces retaliated, police said. The exchange of fire is going on since 7 am.
Security personnel have recovered two bodies of Maoists along with weapons and explosives from the spot of encounter, a police statement said.
Sources informed that forces have rounded up a group of senior cadres of Maoists in the forest and there could be confirmation of more casualties later during the day.
The search is still underway.
