Encounter between Naxals and security forces underway in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon

Raipur: An encounter broke out on Wednesday between the Naxals and the security forces near Bukhmarka in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district. The encounter operation was jointly launched by Special Task Force (STF) and District Reserve Guards (DRG) teams.

Earlier this month, a group of Naxals allegedly torched a bus in Kasoli village in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, after asking passengers to alight, police said.

Three Naxals were arrested in connection with the incident, police said.

They also thrashed the passengers, driver and conductor and snatched their mobile phones. The cadres escaped from the spot soon after.

After being alerted, a police team rushed to the spot and managed to track down the Naxals based on the location of the mobile phones robbed by them. Police chased the Naxals till Korgaon jungle area under Barsoor police station limits.

When the police team reached the Korgaon forest area, the ultras opened fire on them. However, police opened a retaliatory firing and arrested three Naxals.

Police have recovered one of the total 16 mobile phones robbed by the Naxals.

(With inputs from agencies)