India, July 27 -- The Chhattisgarh police on Sunday identified the four Maoists, including two women, who were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district on Saturday, as members of the banned CPI (Maoist)'s South Sub-Zonal Bureau, who had a combined reward of Rs.17 lakh on their heads announced by the state government.

The deceased included three area committee members (ACMs), each carrying a reward of Rs.5 lakh, and one lower party cadre with a Rs.2 lakh reward.

The encounter took place on Saturday evening in the dense forests along the Basaguda and Gangaloor police station border, following a search operation launched by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) based on intelligence input about Maoist presence.

According...