In an encounter with Maoists, also called Naxals, at least two cops of the crack Quick Response Team were killed in the wee hours today.

According to a Gadchiroli police spokesperson, at around 6 a.m., when the security forces were carrying out a combing operation in the Koparshi forests of the Maoist-infested Bhamragad region, the encounter took place.

The Maoists who were hiding in the jungle engaged in a fierce gun battle with security personnel. Dhanaji Honmane and Kishore Atram die in the gun battle.

The police said the security forces may have succeeded in inflicting heavy damage on the Maoists, including at least four fatalities.

Search and combing operations are currently underway and the entire region is in a state of high alert.

(With agency inputs).