Atleast 10 Maoists were reported to have been gunned down by security forces in a heavy exchange of fire in restive Narayanpur district of Bastar in Chhattisgarh, police said.
"There were around 40 to 50 Maoists who lobbed bombs and fired mortar shells. The security personnel responded by returning fire which forced the Maoists to flee," according to Narayanpur District Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Meena.
He said the exchange of fire continued for nearly two hours late on Monday night after which the Maoists fled the spot.
Ten Maoists are believed to have been killed whose bodies have been taken away by the insurgents, he said.