An encounter has broken out between security forces and Naxalites in Chattisgarh's Bijapur District. Police officials told ANI that the gunfight was going on in forests under the National Park area. Security forces have launched a search operation as well.

This is second consecutive day of Naxalite-related violence in Bijapur. On Saturday (January 11), a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldier was injured in an explosion of Improvised Explosive Device (IED)in Bijapur district.

The incident occurred during an area domination exercise carried out by CRPF. A team from 196 Batallion Mahadev Ghat was carrying out the exercise in the morning when the jawan got injured. He was admitted to District Hospital in Bijapur.

Earlier in the week weapons and bodies of three Naxals were recovered following an encounter at Sukma-Bijpur border in the state.

Kiran Chavan, Superintendent of Police (SP) in Sukma told ANI that District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and the Central Reserve Police Force's jungle warfare unit (CoBRA) teams were involved in the encounter.

Chhattisgarh and parts of neighbouring states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana are known to be Naxalite affected areas. The region often sees encounter between the Naxalites and security forces with casualties on both sides.