India, May 23 -- Twenty-five Maoist cadre deployed on the protection of Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, were among the 27 ultras - along with the top Maoist himself - killed in an encounter with security forces in the Abhujhmad jungles of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, officers aware of the matter said on Thursday.

One member of the special zonal committee, Jangua Naveen, was also among those killed, they added.

"Twenty-five cadres of People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) company number 7 who were given responsibility of guarding Basavaraju were killed in the encounter. We believe they were about 35 in number and the rest of them managed to escape," a senior officer said, requesting anonymity.

Company 7 of PLGA, meant for the pro...