NEW DELHI, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Indian paramilitary Wednesday killed four Naxals in a gunfight in eastern state of Bihar, officials has said.
The gunfight broke out at Gurupa- Baskatwa forest area in Gaya district, about 112 km south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar.
"Four Naxals were killed in Gurupa forest area of Gaya today afternoon in a fierce gunfight," a police official said. "The COBRA troopers of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) carried out a search operation of the area on intelligence information, triggering a gunfight."
India's official broadcaster - All India Radio (AIR) said four assault rifles and ammunition have been recovered from the encounter site.
Currently, Naxalites are active in more than a third of India's 600-odd districts across central and eastern India.
India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh once termed the Naxalite movement as India's "greatest internal security challenge."
New Delhi has deployed several companies of its paramilitary forces to take on Naxals in their strongholds.
The insurgency reportedly has claimed more than 6,000 lives and rendered thousands of poor inhabitants homeless.
