Raipur/IBNS: Twenty-two Maoists were killed in two separate encounters that took place in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur and Kanker districts on Thursday, media reports said.

One police jawan was also killed in exchange of fire in Bijapur.

The gunfight began at 7 am in Bijapur, where 18 Maoists were killed, along the district's border with Dantewada.

The security forces had launched an anti-Naxalite operation in Gangaloor Police Station area.

Four Maoists were killed in Kanter during a gunfight near Koroskodo village.

In the previous month, 31 Maoists were gunned down by the security forces in the Bijapur district.

Last year, 219 Maoists with 217 from the Bastar region were killed by security forces.