2 security personnel, 1 naxal killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Two security personnel on Monday died after a heavy exchange of fire that took place between the security forces and the naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma.

The fierce gunbattle that continued for five hours also left a Naxal dead. The encounter happened in Bheji police station limits.

The firing started at 11 am. The two martyred security personnel have been identified as a Special Task Force (STF) personnel and the other one as a District Reserve Group personnel (DRG).

"The encounter went on for around 5 hrs in Sukma's Bheji. It started at 11 am and concluded half an hour ago. The heavy firing took place from both sides. One STF and one DRG soldiers were martyred. Six DRG soldiers have been injured", DM Awasthi, Special DG, anti-Naxal operations told ANI.

Six security personnel were also injured in the ongoing encounter. A manager of a road construction company was also killed by the naxals.

"We airlifted six injured security personnel to Raipur for treatment. In this incident, manager of a road construction company also died. Search operations & investigation are underway," said Sundarraj P, DIG (South Bastar).