From correspondents in Chhattisgarh, India, 12:00 PM IST

Three Maoist guerrillas were killed in separate gunbattles with security forces in Chhattisgarh's violence-hit Bastar region, police said Sunday.

Officials at the police headquarters here said that two guerrillas were killed in a brief gunbattle in Dantewada district's Jagargunda forested stretch, while another militant was shot dead in Bijapur district's Jungla locality.

Both the incidents took place Saturday night in thickly forested stretches.

Bastar region, located in the state's southern part and comprising of Dantewada, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kanker and Bastar, is considered a Maoist stronghold. The insurgents often carry out deadly attacks on police and civilians.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)