Maoist killed in exchange of fire with cops

A Maoist was killed during a heavy gun-battle between security personnel and ultras in insurgency hit Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh, police said today.
The deceased cadre, identified as Dodi Soma (28) belonged to the outlawed CPI (Maoist), a senior police official said.
The face-off took place between a joint squad of district force, STF and CRPF and the ultras in the restive forest of Gaganpalli and Murkumpar forests while they were crossing a river last evening, the official said.
The joint squads of security personnel was mobilised on an intense anti-Naxal operation on August 21 in Basaguda,Awapalli and Usoor police station area, located around 500 km away from the state capital.

When the security personnel were returning to their camp last evening, a group of 40-45 armed Naxals triggered a landmine blast and opened indiscriminate firing on them near Lotwagu river, following which they retaliated.
After the gunfight that lasted for around an hour, the Naxals fled to the core forests finding the jawans zeroing in on them, he said.
The body of a rebel, three crude bombs, three detonators, wire and Naxal uniform were recovered from the site, he said.
During the week-long operation, exchange of fire between the security personnel and ultras took place at many restive forest patches, the official said, adding no casualty or injury was reported from police side during this period.