additional director general of police (anti-naxal operations) rajinder kuamr vij said that the encounter took place at pidmal village between dornapal and chintagufa when the rebels tried to attack the security personnel. the forces retaliated leading to a fierce encounter during which seven security personnel died and eleven others injured. the team of 49 stf men which ventured into the maoists’ liberated zone on saturday morning, had reportedly not informed senior police officers based in bastar and sukma before embarking on an operation which eventually proved “suicidal.” seven personnel, including the platoon commander, shankara rao, were gunned down by the maoists.