Twelve Naxals killed in West Midnapore

In a crackdown on Naxalites, security forces killed twelve Naxals, including three women, in an encounter in a forest in West Midnapore district early today.

After getting a tip-off on a group of 22 Naxalites taking shelter in Ranja forest, near Duli village in the Salboni police station area, the joint forces — comprising the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force, COBRA and state police — raided the area, District Magistrate N S Nigam said.

The Naxalites were the first to open fire followed by retaliation from the forces, killing twelve Naxalites, including three women. All bodies had been recovered, but were yet to be identified.

The entire area from Bhadutala to Pirakata in Salboni along the forest has been declared off limits to people and vehicles following the encounter.

The vigil along the border with Jharkhand has been intensified, the DM said, adding more Naxalites might be hiding in the area.