A Maoist was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in insurgency-hit Sukma district of Bastar, police said.
The encounter took place close to Pota Cabin school falling under Konta police station limits leaving one Maoist dead, according to Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) Indira Kalyan Elesela.
Villagers had informed police on Monday night that 5 to 6 armed men were spotted near the school in Konta town, located around 500 kms away from here, he said.
Acting on inputs, a joint team of district force and CRPF’s 217 battalion launched a search operation in the region.
While they were cordoning off a patch close to the school at around 4 am, a gun battle broke out between the two sides, the SP said, adding that the rebels, however, fled from the spot taking the advantage of darkness and forest.
During search, the body of a male Maoist beside a country- made pistol and a muzzle loading gun was recovered from the spot, Elesela said.
A search is still underway. The identity of the killed ultra is yet to be ascertained, he added.