In a major anti-insurgency operation, 10 Maoists were killed on Tuesday in a gun battle with security forces in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.
The gunfight took place at around 6 am in the forests near Lendra and Korcholi villages in Gangaloor area, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said.
The District Reserve Guard, the Special Task Force, the Central Reserve Police Force and its elite unit CoBRA were involved in the operation.
After the skirmish, the bodies of 10 Maoists including a woman were recovered.
Also found was a light machine gun, a .303 bore rifle, a .12 bore rifle, barrel grenade launchers and arms and ammunition.
Prima facie, it seems that most of the deceased were from the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army Company No 2 of the outlawed Maoist organization.
The identity of the deceased Maoists is yet to be ascertained.
Naxalites carry out tactical counter offensive campaign between March and June every year.
A large number of attacks on security forces have taken place in the Bastar region during this period.
On March 27, six Maoists were gunned down in Basaguda area of Bijapur.
Bijapur district is part of the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency which will see voting on April 19.
As many as 42 Maoists have been killed this year in Bastar region's seven districts including Bijapur.
