Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 14 (HBTV): At least three Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces on Sunday in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, according to the Bijapur Police. The security personnel also recovered several automatic and other weapons, along with explosives, from the forests under the National Park area of Bijapur district.

Currently, a search operation is ongoing in the area as security personnel work to identify the deceased Naxalites. The operation was launched after the security team received intelligence about the presence of Maoists in the forests under the National Park area. Acting on this information, a team of security forces embarked on an anti-Maoist operation.

The Bijapur Police stated that detailed information would be released after the operation concludes.

Earlier, on Saturday, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites exploded in Bijapur district. Officials reported that the incident occurred as a CRPF team from the 196 Battalion Mahadev Ghat left for the forest to carry out area domination. During the operation, one jawan sustained injuries from the IED blast and was admitted to the District Hospital Bijapur for treatment.

In a separate incident on Thursday, the bodies of three Naxals and several weapons were recovered following an encounter at the Sukma-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh, an official confirmed. 'Bodies of three Naxals and weapons recovered. The search operation is still underway,' said SP Sukma Kiran Chavan. The encounter occurred in the forest at the Sukma-Bijapur border.

Additionally, eight jawans from the District Reserve Guards (DRG) and one civilian driver were killed in an IED blast triggered by the Naxalites in Bijapur district on Monday. (ANI)