Three women among 8 Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh encounter

Police said the encounter broke out while a joint team of special task force personnel and district reserve guards was carrying out a search operation in Timenaar Pahadi area early on Thursday.

Eight Maoists, including at least three women fighters, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh Dantewada district on Thursday morning.

Three women fighters were also killed in the encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada. (File Photo)

Police recovered two INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifles, two .303 rifles, a 12-bore gun and a few muzzle-loading guns following the encounter.

Dantewada superintendent of police (SP) Kamalochan Kashyap, told HT that a team of special task force and district reserve guards, which was on a search operation in the Timenaar Pahadi area, engaged the Maoists in the encounter in the early hours of Thursday.

“The encounter started at around 5.30am and lasted for more than couple of hours. We have recovered eight bodies, which are yet to be identified. We have also recovered seven weapons including two INSAS rifles,” said the SP.

Special director general of police (Naxal operations ) DM Awasthi said, “ We are pushing our security forces inside the core areas of Maoists in the monsoon due to which they are getting frustrated. We hope more such successes will follow.”