The gun battle with Maoists took place in the dense forests of the insurgency-hit Sukma district in Chhattisgarh. (File photo)
A police jawan was killed and another one sustained critical injuries during a gun battle with Maoists that took place in the dense forests of the insurgency-hit Sukma district in Chhattisgarh this afternoon, police said.
"The face-off took place in the forests of Marjoom village that falls under Tongpal police station limits, when a joint squad of security forces was carrying out an anti-Naxal operation in the bordering region of Sukma-Dantewada districts," a senior police official told news agency PTI.
Composite squads of STF (Special Task Force), state's District Reserve Group (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and district force had launched the operation from Katekalyan police station area of Dantewada district, located around 450 km away from the state capital, last night, he said.
"When one of the parties reached near Dhruvapara in Marjoom area this afternoon, a group of armed Naxals opened indiscriminate firing on them leaving a DRG jawan dead and another one injured," he said.
A heavy gun-fight broke out between both the sides that lasted for about two hours, he added.
The dead jawan was identified as constable Shyamlal Atami, while another constable Rajesh Satam sustained critical injuries in the incident, the official said adding that the killed as well as the injured jawans belonged to the DRG.
Reinforcement has been rushed to the spot and efforts are on to evacuate the injured jawan from the forests, he said adding that more details on the incident are awaited.