Police team also recovered a huge cache of weapons from the encounter spot, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, SRP Kalluri said.
"The skirmish took place between a joint team of securityforces and the rebels in the dense forests of Kutul village," Kalluri told PTI.
The IG said the security forces in the Bastar division were directed to plan their strategy to take on the ultras who usually start their Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) in January.
"They were given the target of Kutul that is in the heart of Maad area considered as an undeclared capital of naxals," he said.
Whilesecurity personnel were cordoning off a forest access on the border of Narayanpur and Orchha police station limits, a huge contingent of Maoists openedindiscriminate firing on them, ensuing a heavygun-battlethat lasted for around two hours, the IGadded.
He said the naxals beat a retreat after security personnel started closing in.
He said seven firearms, including a .303 rifle and six .315 rifles, besides Naxal-related material was recovered from the spot.
The identity of killed and arrested Maoists will be known once the security teams return to their camps, the IG added.
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