At least four Naxal women were killed early on Sunday during a gun-battle with security forces in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district. A joint team of District Reserve Group personnel, Special Task Force officers and the Central Reserve Police Force conducted the operation, PTI reported. Officials said that top Maoist leader Aaytu was also injured in the operation.

Aaytu is a member of the Darbha Division of Maoists, and leader of the Malangir Area Committee, which is responsible for many deadly attacks in the region. The group carried out the Jiram Valley attack in May 2013 in which 31 people, including top Congress members, were killed.