Forces storm Maoist stronghold in Bastar, kill 15

RAIPUR

: In one of the biggest offensives in

Chhattisgarh

, security forces stormed a Maoist hideout deep in the forests of Bastar on Monday morning, killing 15 rebels. Two suspected Maoists were arrested and a large cache of IEDs, guns and ammunition seized.

About a fortnight ago, eight Maoists, including four women, were killed in an encounter on the border of Dantewada and

Bijapur

in Bastar. In the last two months, 39 Maoists have been eliminated. This is part of the forces' new tactic of scaling up the offensive during monsoon - a strategy devised in the last two years.