Sukma, March 29 -- In a significant blow to Naxals, security personnel gunned down 16 Naxals and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition in a major encounter in the Kerlapal area of Sukma district, said Sukma SP on Saturday.

Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan confirmed the recovery of 16 Naxal bodies from the site and said, "Two of our jawans sustained injuries during the operation and are being evacuated for medical attention."

He said that security forces also seized a large cache of sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), and INSAS rifles from the area.

"This can be called as one of the biggest encounters Sukma has seen to date," SP Chavan added.

The official said that the identiti...