Two naxals gunned down on Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border

New Delhi: Two Naxals were “gunned down” by police in an encounter on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border near here this evening.

Personnel from Anti-Naxal Squad of the district police were on a combing operation in Kasansur area when a group of armed Maoists hiding in the forest suddenly opened fire at them around 5.30 pm. The policemen immediately returned fire, killing two of them, an official release here said.

The other rebels, however fled, taking cover in the thick forest, it said, adding, two 303 rifles and naxal material were recovered from the encounter site located on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border. Police, however, did not give the names of the slain ultras.

Anti-naxal operations have been intensified in the area, it said.