Two hardcore Naxals gunned down by police

Two hardcore Naxals, carrying a cash reward on their heads, were today gunned down in a fierce encounter with the security forces in a dense forest pocket in the insurgency-hit Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, police said.
The gunbattle took place this afternoon between a joint squad of security forces and ultras in the Salfijodi jungles of Darbha police station area, Bastar Superintendent of Police R N Dash told PTI.
"A composite squad of Special Task Force (STF) and District Reserve Group (DRG) had launched an anti-Naxal operation in the interior forests of Darbha region, located around 400 km away from the state capital," he said.

When security forces were carrying out a search at their target places in the forest areas of Chandameta, Badanpal and Kumakoleng villages, Naxals opened fire on them, the SP said.
"Security forces immediately took positions and launched the retaliatory attack that forced the ultras to flee from the spot," he said.
During the search conducted later, bodies of two dreaded Naxals,a country-made gun, a walkie-talkie, a hand grenade and a cache of Naxal-related material were recovered from the spot, he said.
Those killed were identified as Machkot LGS (local guerrilla squad) commander Munna and area committee member Baman, the SP said adding that the duo were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each on their head.

Theywere allegedly involved in several major Maoist- related incidents in the region, he added.