Chaibasa, Jharkhand:
A fierce Naxal encounter and a subsequent combing operation that took place in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district over the last three days finally ended on Tuesday morning.
The Jharkhand Police say three of their men died in the encounter. Police also claim that 10 Naxals were killed, though only three bodies were found.
"This is one of the biggest anti-Naxal operations in the state so far. We have killed 10 Naxals and recovered a few bodies," said Neyaz Ahmed, the DGP of Jharkhand.
Police say rest of the bodies were left behind in the jungles as they could not carry them back to the base camp.
The bodies of the three slain policemen were handed over to their families after a guard of honour.
The Naxal operation started on Saturday near Chaibasa in West Singhbhum. Around 2000 Special Forces comprising jawans of CRPF, COBRA, Jharkhand Jaguar and local police were involved in the encounter with at least 400 Naxals.
Police say the search operations might resume later in the day.