Bijapur (Chhattisgarh), Dec 23 : Security forces gunned down three suspected Maoists during an encounter in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.

Officials said the police team was on routine search operation when the rebels opened fire and were killed in the crossfire.

"During search operation bodies of three Maoists, two... gun, one 12-bore guns, one five kilogram tiffin bomb, detonators, wire, a bag, some utensils and few medicines were recovered," said Rajendra Das, Additional Superintendent of Police, Bijapur.

Chhattisgarh is among the worst affected Maoist states in the country.

The main objective of the Maoists is to prevent the development of infrastructure in remote areas, which so far has remained their exclusive domain.

The Maoists claim they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and landless labourers, but they are fast losing credibility as they continue attacking schools, hospitals and infrastructure projects. (ANI)