"The STF jawans were on a search drive when over 100 heavily armed insurgents encircled them from all directions in a difficult forested terrain and sprayed bullets", said R.K Vij, state's additional director general of police who heads the anti-Naxal operations.

"Seven brave STF jawans were martyred and at least 12 injured in the gun battle which went on for roughly two hours in an area which is inaccessible by road and also lacks any communication facilities."

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The attack site is located about 450 km from state capital Raipur.

The 12 STF men, who sustained multiple bullet wounds, were airlifted by two choppers to Jagdalpur, headquarters of Bastar region which is plagued by Naxal violence since the late 1980s.

Officials at police headquarters claimed that a heavy contingent of para-military CRPF was rushed to the attack site to track down the insurgents.