Police say at least seven Maoist rebels and a paramilitary soldier have been killed in a fierce gunbattle in central India. Chhattisgarh state inspector general of police R.K. Vij said police and paramilitary troopers launched a clearing operation in Dantewada district on Thursday. As the soldiers closed in on a rebel-infested area early Friday, a gunbattle broke out killing the rebels. He said a paramilitary soldier was killed when the rebels returned fire, according to a report of the Associated Press.
