India, April 21 -- Security forces on Monday gunned down at least eight Maoists in an encounter during an anti-Naxal operation at the foothills of Lugu Pahad in Lalpania under the Jageshwar Vihar police station limit of Bokaro district.

"After receiving information about the presence of a large number of Maoists, the Jharkhand Police, the CRPF, and Jharkhand Jaguar team reached their hideouts. As soon as the joint team reached the area, the Maoists opened fire. After several rounds of firing from the sides, eight Maoists were killed," a police officer aware of the development told HT.

Several arms and rounds of ammunition, including automatic weapons such as AK-47s, SLRs, and a large quantity of explosives, were recovered from the site ...