The Maoists were killed in a joint operation by the Central Reserve Police Force, SoG Odisha and Chhattisgarh Police along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border
The naxalites were killed during fresh exchange of fire that took place late on Monday night and early Tuesday morning in a forest under the Mainpur police station area along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border
In a statement released to the media, Maoist South Bastar Divisional Committee secretary Ganga says Damodar died while fighting the 'fascist-Hindutva' forces
Bijapur Superintendent of Police Dr. Jitendra Kumar Yadav said in an exchange of fire between the security forces and PLGA Battalion No. 1 and Central Regional Committee (CRC) bodies of 12 hardcore naxals were recovered along with weapons
The encounter started in a forest along the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation
The incident took place near Ambeli village under Kutru police station limits in the district when a vehicle carrying security personnel was passing through the road in the naxal-affected area.
According to officials, the gunfight broke out in forest of south Abujhmaad along the border of Narayanpur and Dantewada districts when a joint team of security personnel was carrying out an anti-naxalite operation
Mukesh Chandrakar, a 33-year-old journalist, was found dead in a septic tank in Bijapur, with police suspecting the murder is linked to his reporting on corruption