Eight Naxalites killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district; weapons recovered

With this encounter, 50 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters in the state so far this year (Image: ANI)

Eight Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Saturday, a senior police official said.

An Insas rifle and a barrel grenade launcher (BGL) were among the weapons recovered from the encounter site, he informed.

The gunfight broke out around 8.30 am in the forest in Gangaloor police station area when District Reserve Guard and Special Task Force of the state police along with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) were out on an anti-Naxalite operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said.

The operation was launched on Friday after receiving information about the presence of cadres of the "West Bastar division" of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoists) in the area, he said.

"The bodies of eight Naxalites have been recovered from the spot. Many more ultras have either been killed or injured. The search operation at the site is still underway. We have recovered an Insas rifle, a barrel grenade launcher and other weapons from the spot," Sundarraj said.

With this encounter, 50 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters in the state so far this year.

On January 20-21, 16 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in the state's Gariaband district.

Last year, 219 Naxalites were neutralised by security forces in separate encounters in the state, as per police.