At least 12 suspected Maoists were killed in a gun-battle with security forces in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district yesterday, a senior police official said.

The gunfight broke out in a forest of south Bijapur when a joint team of security personnel was conducting an anti-Maoist drive. The intermittent exchange of fire lasted till late in the evening, PTI quoted the official as saying.

"As per preliminary information, 12 Naxalites [Maoists] were killed in the gunfight. Further details will be known later as a search operation was still underway in the area," the official said.

No security personnel were injured, he added.

With this, 26 Naxalites have been gunned down in separate encounters in the state so far this month.

On January 12, five Maoists, including two women, were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Madded Police Station area of Bijapur district.

Last year, 219 Naxalites were killed by security forces in separate encounters in the state.