india

Updated: Apr 04, 2019 17:16 IST

Four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and two others injured in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh on Thursday, police said.

“Four personnel including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) were killed in the encounter. The exchange of fire started when a team of 114 Battalion of BSF personnel deployed in Pakhanjur town was on a routine combing operation near Mahala village,” IG Bastar, Vivekanand Sinha said.

The IG added that Maoists also suffered causalities in the exchange of fire but they escaped into the jungles.

“We have started a massive combing operation in Maoist-affected areas of Kanker district and we are hoping for results in the next few hours,” SP Kanker, RL Druve said.

Meanwhile, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel condemned the attack on security forces and called it a cowardly act.

“We will take strict action against the Maoists and violence will not be tolerated. Our security forces are capable of taking appropriate action,” the CM added.

On March 16, security forces gunned down four suspected Maoists in a gun battle in Sukma police limits.

Polling in the Kanker Lok Sabha constituency will be held along with two other seats - Mahasamund and Rajnandgaon - in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh on April 18. Polling for the other two phases in the state will be held on April 11 and 23.