Sukma, March 29 A Naxalite was killed in an encounter with security forces in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday, two days before the Centre's March 31 deadline to eliminate Maoism from the country, police said.
The gunfight took place in the forest area under the Polampalli police station, where a team of security personnel was conducting an anti-Naxal operation, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said.
One Naxalite has died, and a search operation is underway in the area, he added.
The encounter comes just two days ahead of the March 31 deadline set by the Centre to eliminate armed Naxalism from the country.
With this incident, at least 27 Maoists have been killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh so far this year. On January 3, 14 Maoists were killed in two encounters in the Bastar region, which includes seven districts.
Last year, security forces killed a total of 285 Maoists in encounters across the state.
