Chhattisgarh: Three naxals killed in encounter with security forces

Three naxals carrying ca ash reward of Rs. 13 lakh were killed in an encounter with the security forces, in a jungle of the Kopenkadka village in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Rajnandgaon district, the police said.

The gun-battle took place at around 10 p.m. in the forests of the Kopenkadka village, when a joint team of the security forces was out on an anti-naxal operation.

A joint squad of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the District Force led by the Manpur Sub Divisional Officer of Police, Akash Girpunje, had launched the operation in the interiors of the region.

During a search, three automatic weapons namely one AK 47 rifle, one Insas rifle and one SLR rifle, were recovered from the spot.

Those killed were identified as Mahesh, an area committee member (ACM), Rakesh ACM and Pallemadi LOS (local organisation squad) commander and Ranjit-Pallemadi LOS deputy commander.

All three hailed from the Bastar region of the state.