Three Maoists, including a woman, were gunned down in a fierce gun-battle with security personnel in a dense forest area in Chhattisgarh's restive Dantewada district of Bastar region, police said.
The encounter occurred early on Friday morning in the forests of Kacheghat area when a team of District Reserve Group (DRG) was out on an anti-Naxal operation in the region, according to Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) Kamlochan Kashyap.
Based on inputs, a team of DRG personnel had launched the operation in Faraspal's interiors forests, located on Dantewada-Bijapur border, he said.
A group of armed Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on the security personnel close to Kacheghat village following which an encounter broke out between the two sides, he said.
Bodies of three cadres, including a female, clad in 'uniform' were later found from the spot.
Besides, two 315 bore revolvers, a muzzle loading gun, some daily use items and two bags were also recovered from the spot, he said.
A thorough search of the area is underway and more details are awaited, the SP added.
The killed ultras were identified as Faggoo alias Nishant, Soma alias Ajeet and the woman- Manki alias Geeta.
Police informed that Fagoo was active as Divisional Supply Team member of Maoist while Manki was the member of Indravati National Park Border Company.
Similarly, Soma a resident of Sukma, was the gunman of dreaded Maoist Commander Papa Rao, he claimed.