Bijapur (Chhattisgarh), February 26 Two Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Thursday, according to police.
The exchange of fire took place in a forest along the Indravati river in the morning when a joint team of security forces was conducting an anti-Naxalite operation, a senior police official said.
After the gunfire ceased, the bodies of two Naxalites, along with a Self-Loading Rifle, an Insas rifle, and a 12-bore rifle, were recovered from the scene, he added.
A search operation was still in progress, he further stated.
With this action, at least 25 Maoists have been killed in separate encounters in the state so far this year.
Earlier, 14 Maoists were killed in two encounters on January 3 in the Bastar region, which comprises seven districts, including Bijapur.
Last year, 285 Maoists were killed in various encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh.
The Centre has set a deadline of March 31 this year to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism from the country.