RAIPUR: Seven Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district. The encounter has been going on for the last three days. Two Maoist leaders are among the slain. Several weapons, including an AK-47, were recovered from their possession. A search is on for the Maoists at the spot. In the encounter that took place yesterday, the security forces had killed Gautam alias Sudhakar, a central committee member of the banned outfit CPI-Maoist. Chhattisgarh police had announced a bounty of Rs 40 lakh on Gautam.

The firing took place while a joint team of security forces was conducting an anti-Maoist operation in the forest area of ​​Indravati National Park based on a tip-off. The area is a stronghold of Maoists. The operation was carried out jointly by the Special Task Force, District Reserve Guard, two units of Chhattisgarh Police and CoBRA(Commando Battalion for Resolute Action-an elite unit of the CRPF).

The firing had been going on since early yesterday morning. The Maoist group opened fire on the security forces after seeing them. CPI-Maoist General Secretary Nambala Kesava Rao alias Basavaraju was killed by security forces in an encounter in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh last month. Police said that more than 200 Maoists have been killed in encounters in Chhattisgarh so far this year. Of these, 183 are in the Bastar region.