The Bijapur encounter death toll rose to 18 after forces recovered six more Maoist bodies on Thursday. Three DRG personnel were killed and two injured. A major cache of weapons was seized, and top Maoist commander Modiyam Vella was among the dead.

Kothagudem: The death toll in the encounter that took place between police and CPI (Maoist) cadres on the border of Dantewada and Bijapur districts in Chhattisgarh rose to 18.

It might be noted that DRG, STF and CRPF personnel launched an ant-naxal search operation in Keshkutul forests under Bhairamgarh police station limits on Wednesday morning during which an exchange of fire ensued. Three security personnel were killed and two were injured in the encounter.

By the evening hours the security forces recovered bodies of 12 naxalites killed in

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