Bijapur, Dec. 4 -- Final salutes were paid to three fallen heroes killed in the line of action while combating Maoists in the jungles of Bijapur-Dantewada in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at Bijapur police line for District Reserve Guard (DRG) Bijapur Head Constable Monu Vadadi, Constable Dukaru Gonde and jawan Ramesh Sodhi, who laid down their lives during Wednesday's encounter with the Maoists.

Security forces have discovered the bodies of at least 18 Maoists. They were killed in an exchange of fire during an anti-Naxal operation along the Bijapur-Dantewada border that went on for nearly 12 hours.

Bastar Inspector General of Police (IG) P Sundarraj told reporters here that Divisional Committee Member...