(Picture used for representational purpose)

RAIPUR: As many as 14 Maoists were killed and 16 weapons seized during a fierce encounter with security forces near a forest village between Gollappalli and Konta in Sukma district in the tribal Bastar region of Chhattisgarh on Monday.

A team of security forces were on a search and combing operation in the forests when Maoist cadres opened fire leading to an encounter with the security forces, said inspector general of police (Bastar Range) Vivekanand Sinha.

Police said security forces had launched the operation following intelligence inputs about the presence of a large number of Maoists in the area. Separate teams of the CRPF, the District Reserve Guards and the Special Task Force launched the operation.

Senior police officials said additional reinforcements have been rushed to the remote forest area in Sukma to retrieve the bodies of the slain Maoists.It is not immediately known how many bodies have been recovered so far, as Maoists usually take away the bodies of their dead comrades after such encounters.

Security forces had stepped up their operations in tribal Bastar region during this monsoon. Maoists usually lie low during this season as navigation through the forests is difficult due to flooded rivers and thick vegetation in the forests. However, this time the security forces decided to venture deep into the forests to target the Maoists and to dominate their areas.

