Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on the search party when the latter was zeroing on the camp set up by the ultras in the forest. (Photo: PTI/Representational)

Bhopal: Three suspected Maoists were on Friday gunned down in an encounter with security forces in a forest under the Chintagufa police limits in Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar district of Sukma.

According to Sukma district superintendent of police (SP) Abhishek Meena, a joint search party comprising commandoes of District Reserve Group (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) launched a combing operation in Takanpalli forest, following intelligence inputs on presence of Maoists in the area.

Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on the search party when the latter was zeroing on the camp set up by the ultras in the forest.

A fierce gunfight ensued between them, leading to killing of three rebels, the Bastar police said.