A Naxalite was killed in a gun battle with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Sunday, police said. The gunfight took place in a forest near Minpa village when a joint team of security forces was out on a search operation, Sukma Superintendent of Police Sunil Sharma said. The District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were involved in the operation that was launched based on the movement of Maoists in the area, a rebel stronghold. The exchange of fire lasted for about one-and-a-half hours following which the rebels escaped into the forest, the official said. Later, the body of a male Naxalite was recovered from the spot. Sharma said blood stains at the site indicated that many other Naxalites were either injured or killed in the fighting.