UPDATED: April 5, 2021 10:05 IST
CRPF personnel carry the coffin of a jawan who was killed in the encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh (Dharmendar Sharma/India Today)
At least 22 security personnel were killed and 31 suffered serious injuries following an exchange of fire between forces and Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur. One soldier is still believed to be missing in the worst Naxal attack in four years.
Chhattisgarh Police said in a statement that at least 12 Maoists were killed and 16 injured in the gun battle following the ambush. The security forces were ambushed by around 400 Naxals, who surrounded the jawans from three sides and opened fire.