NEW DELHI, July 3 (Xinhua) -- At least five Naxals were killed Tuesday in a fierce gunfight with government forces in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said.
The gunfight between Naxals and joint contingents of the paramilitary and police broke out in Abujhmad forest area of Narayanpur district, about 200 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.
"Today a gunfight triggered between Naxals and joint contingents of security forces, including police and Border Security Force, in Abujhmad forest area under Kohkameta police station. In the stand-off five Naxals were gunned down," a police official said.
According to the official, the operation was underway in the area.
Police said the government forces have not suffered any damage in the gunbattle.
Reports said since the beginning of this year, 138 Naxals have been killed in separate gunfights with government forces in the state.
Currently, Naxals are active across the central and eastern parts of India.
India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh once termed the Naxalite movement as India's "greatest internal security challenge".
New Delhi has deployed several companies of its paramilitary forces to take on Naxals in their strongholds.
The insurgency reportedly has claimed hundreds of lives besides rendering thousands of poor inhabitants homeless. ■
