Two security personnel were killed while six others were injured in an encounter with Naxals in Sukma, Chattisgarh on Sunday.

The encounter also claimed the life of one Naxal, whose body was recovered in Sukma's Errabor. 

Heavy shellings from both sides started at around 11 am on Sunday and continued for over 5 hours in Sukma's Bheji.

The deceased include a soldier from the Special Task Force (STF) and one from District Reserve Guard (DRG).

The six injured in the encounter were taken to Raipur for treatment.

The Chattisgarh police are conducting a search operation and Investigation in the matter.

A day before, reports indicated a warning from Intelligence agencies for a big Naxal attack on security forces in Chhattisgarh's South Bastar region.

The Naxal insurgency, considered India's most serious internal security threat, has claimed around 10,000 lives since it started in the 1960s.

Chhattisgarh is part of the so-called "red corridor" that passes through resource-rich areas of central, southern, western and eastern India and is mostly inhabited by underprivileged tribes.

Naxalites, who say they are fighting for the rights of marginalised tribal groups, operate from jungle bases but often descend on villages to demand protection money and recruit young men and women to their ranks.

Heavy shellings from both sides started at around 11 am on Sunday and continued for over 5 hours in Sukma's Bheji.