New Delhi: Nearly 24 CRPF jawans were killed in an encounter in Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh state on Saturday. While the CRPF personal went for combing the naxals in the forest area, the naxals attacked them and two groups fired on each other, said the police.

In the encounter nearly 24 CRPF personnels and 25 to 30 Maoists were also killed, said the CRPF Chief Kuldeep Singh. Speaking to the media persons on Sunday the CRPF Chief said there is no intelligence failure or operational failure in the operation in Chhattisgarh. He also said the exact number of killings in the encounter is yet to be ascertained, CRPF Chief who is in Chhattisgarh to monitor the situation following the Maoist attack, informed.

CRPF Chief speaking on casualties of Maoists in the encounter, “Three tractors were used by Maoists to carry the injured and the dead bodies from the site. It is tough to say right now the exact number of Maoists killed in the operation but it should not be less than 25-30,” he added. He also said he would meet the jawans who suffered injuries in the operation. Around seven CRPF personnel were killed in the attack. “I will be meeting the brave jawans tomorrow who fought with Naxals,” he said.