In an early morning encounter with Maoist insurgents under Taroki thana area two police officials were killed and other two were injured seriously. Arms of one of the jawans were also missing, police department sources said.
According to Kanker Deputy Inspector General of Police Jayant Thorat, a team of district police and Border Security Force jawans had left Taroki thana early Saturday morning for conducting a routine search operation in nearby areas.
While the team returning from checking reached Sakti Ghat, a group of Maoist hiding in wayside bushes ambushed it by opening intense fire.
The security forces team also took position and returned the fire. The encounter lasted for nearly an hour after which the insurgents fled from the scene taking cover of dense forest and hilly terrain.
In the encounter Taroki thana in-charge Santosh Ekka and Head Constable Aliram Usendi died on the spot while two other jawans namely Ravindra Mandawi and Samaru Ram were seriously injured in the incident.
Both the injured jawans as well as body of the martyr cops were brought to Antagarh from where injured cops were sent to Raipur and have been admitted to a private hospital where their condition is stated to be critical.
According to Thorat, after getting information of the incident extra police force was dispatched to the site whereas team of senior police officials also reached the encounter site and a thorough search is being carried out in the whole area.