Four Maoists were killed in a police encounter in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday, said reports.

Rainu, the commander of Bairamgarh area committee's action team, was also among the dead, Bastar Range Inspector General of Police SRP Kalluri told PTI.

Following a tip-off on Naxal movement, the District Reserve Group of the state led an operation near Mirtur police station area with a team of 55 personnel, he added.

The DRG team cordoned off the forest area between the Hallur and Hakwa villages.

The one-hour gunbattle was triggered after the armed insurgents started indiscriminate firing at the police personnel, Kalluri said.

With the militants fleeing to the inner forest area, the police team led a search operation and found the bodies of four Maoists. They have also recovered weapons and ammunitions including a pistol, a 303 rifle, a 315 bore rifle and a 12 bore gun.

Last week, seven Maoists had surrendered in the restive Sukma district of the state.

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