Four Maoists killed in Bijapur

The battle broke out in a forested stretch of Sendra area, 565 km south of here, in Bastar region when the guerrillas fired at policemen on a combing drive.

At least four Maoist militants were shot dead in a gun battle with the police on Saturday in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit southern tip of Bijapur, officials said.

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The battle broke out in a forested stretch of Sendra area, 565 km south of here, in Bastar region when the guerrillas fired at policemen on a combing drive.

"The security forces retaliated and gunned down four rebels, but several other managed to melt into the forests," a police office told.

Bijapur along with neighbouring Dantewada, Narayanpur and Kanker are considered a Maoist bastion.

At least 220 have been killed in Maoist violence in the state this year, police say.