The encounter is still underway (Representational)
Five security personnel have died, and a few were injured in the line of duty in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district. "5 security personnel died in the line of duty. Maoists have also been killed; they have suffered substantial loss," Ashok Juneja, a senior state officer, said.
Security personnel from CRPF's elite CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit, the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF) were out on an anti-Maoist operation when the encounter broke out.
"The encounter broke out in Tarrem area (along Sukma and Bijapur border) when a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Naxal (Maoist) operation," Chhattisgarh Director General of Police DM Awasthi said.
"As per the preliminary information, five jawans were killed and a few others were injured in the gunfight," he added.
The encounter is underway.
More details are awaited.
This comes days after five police personnel were killed and 14 injured after Maoists targeted a bus carrying 27 DRG (District Reserve Guard) troops in Chhattisgarh's Naryanpur district.
The bus, which had been travelling from Kadenar to Kanhargaon, was hit by an IED (improvised explosive device).
On Thursday, meanwhile, three Maoists involved in planting explosives to target the security forces were arrested from Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.