Two CRPF personnel died and another was injured in an encounter with naxals, while a girl was killed after being caught in the crossfire, in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Friday, police said.
The gun-battle took place around 11 am close to a culvertnear Keshkutul village when a team of the CRPF’s 199th battalion was out on anarea domination operation on motorcycles, Bijapur Superintendent of PoliceDivyang Patel said.
Two girls were caught in the crossfire. One of them diedwhile the other was injured, police said.
The motorcycle-borne patrolling team was heading towardsBhairamgarh from its camp in Keshkutul, which falls under the Bhairamgarhpolice station area.
When it was advancing through Keshkutul, the team wasambushed by a group of armed rebels and a gunfight ensued, Patel said.
“Two CRPF personnel — assistant sub-inspector Madhu Patiland head constable Taju Oti were killed. Another assistant sub-inspector, MadanPal, was injured in the gunfight,” he said.
Two minor girls travelling in a goods carrier were caught inthe crossfire when their vehicle was passing through the encounter spot, the SPsaid.
One of them died, while the other was injured, he said.
Reinforcement has been rushed to the spot and the injuredwere admitted to a hospital in Bhairamgarh, he said.
During a search of the encounter spot, two pressureimprovised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered, Patel said.According to another police official, naxalslooted an AK-47 rifle, its four magazines, one bulletproof jacket and onewireless set of security forces during the encounter.