Bijapur, March 20 -- The security forces are engaged in an exchange of fire with Naxals in the forest area at the Bijapur-Dantewada border in Chhattisgarh, police said on Thursday morning.

A search operation was launched and is underway, police added.

Further details awaited.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai met with PM Narendra Modi and presented the master plan for Bastar's development, outlining the strategy to transform the Naxal-affected areas into hubs of infrastructure, industries, and tourism.

CM Sai informed the Prime Minister that naxalism in Chhattisgarh is in its final phase. With coordinated security forces' strategies and public participation, significant transformation has been achieved in affected ...