In one of the biggest blows to Maoist insurgency in the Bastar region this year, security forces eliminated 18 Naxalites in a fierce encounter in the dense Keshkutul forests of Bijapur district.

The toll rose from an initial report of 12 to 18 after thorough combing operations recovered six more bodies from the encounter site Thursday morning.

The gun battle erupted Wednesday when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), CoBRA commandos of the CRPF, and local police, acting on specific intelligence, launched an anti-Naxal operation in the jurisdiction of Gangaloor police station.

Naxalites belonging to the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Company No. 2, Bhairamgarh Area Committee, and Gangaloor Area Committee opened heavy fire on the advancing

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