Raipur: Nine Naxalites have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhatisgarh's Bijapur, according to police officials. The search operation is ongoing, they informed. Following the encounter, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma stated that it occurred after three villagers were murdered by Naxalites.

"Bodies of Naxals are being recovered after an encounter operation by security forces in response to the killing of three villagers by Naxalites. Further search operation is underway," Vijay Sharma informed the media.

The encounter took place around 6 am on Tuesday at Lendra village in Bijapur as part of a joint search operation by the District Reserve Group (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), initiated on Monday night from Gangalur police station area, the police disclosed. "We recovered the bodies of four Naxals after an encounter with the security forces near Kendra-Korcholi forest in Gangalur police station area of Bijapur district," Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, P Sundarraj, briefed reporters on Tuesday.

"One light machine gun (LMG), barrel grenade launchers (BGL) launchers, and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the spot. The search operation is still underway," he said.

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