9 Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh operation

Bijapur, Apr 2 Following a major anti-insurgency operation early Tuesday by a joint police team in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, nine Naxalites were killed, officials confirmed while expressing confidence that the number might rise as several others were also injured.

Police Superintendent Jitendra Kumar Yadav confirming the encounter stated that a large cache arms including a light machine gun were recovered from the battle site.

Police sources confirmed the deaths of nine Naxals as the body count rose steadily after the gunfight that broke out during a combing operation by the joint security forces team.

Sources said that on the night of April 1, the joint security party set out on the search operation in the Gangaloor area of Bijapur district. On Tuesday around 6 a.m., the gun battle took place in the jungles of Lendra village adding another successful chapter to the security forces' efforts in the Bastar division ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

So far, nine bodies of Naxals have been recovered.