Chhattisgarh gunfight over, no casualties

RAIPUR - The gunfight between the heavily-armed Maoists and police that broke out late Saturday evening in Bijapur district of the state’s restive Bastar region ended about an hour later with no casualty to either side, police said.

The exchange of fire between the rebels and police erupted in a thickly forested and hilly area of Bijapur, some 420 km south of capital Raipur.

“The gun battle is now over and there is no report of casualty from any side though we are combing the forested stretch near the site in a bid to recover body of any ultra, if any,” officials here at police headquarters said.

“Our jawans (personnel) fought bravely and forced the rebels to run for cover and there is possibility that a few rebels have received gun shots,” an official said.

The gun fight began when rebels opened indiscriminate fire on a large contingent of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (armed police) and the district force patrolling the area.