In a significant victory against Naxal insurgents, security forces engaged in a fierce exchange of fire with Maoists in the dense forests of Mangnar under the Barsoor police station area. The encounter resulted in the neutralisation of 31-yr-old Ratan Kashyap alias Salam, a resident of Gothiya under Malewahi police station area of Bastar, and a notorious Todma Militia Platoon Deputy Commander and Amdai Area Committee Member, who had a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head.