India, Aug. 13 -- Two senior Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in the Mohala-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district, officials said on Wednesday.

District superintendent of police YP Singh said the gunfight took place near Retegaon in the Banda Pahad area under Madanwada police station limits on Wednesday afternoon.

"The encounter broke out during an anti-Maoist operation and lasted several hours inside the jungle. Once the exchange of fire subsided, a search of the area led to the recovery of the bodies of two slain Maoists," said Singh.

He said the two were identified as Vijay Reddy, a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZCM), and Lokesh Salame, a divisional committee member of the Rajanadgaon-Kanker-...