Unable to get photographs of top Naxal leaders, security forces in the country's Maoist hotbeds are being provided with sketches of these ultras.

An engineer of a private construction firm was abducted by a breakaway faction of naxalites in Gaya district of Bihar, police said today.

At least two persons were detained in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district, bordering West Bengal, as police forces of the two states moved through treacherous terrains in continuing joint anti-Maoist operation today.

In a major blow to Maoists in Andhra Pradesh, two top leaders including Shakamuri Apparao - facing charges of making attempts on the lives of two former Andhra Pradesh chief ministers - were killed today in separate encounters in Prakasam and Warangal districts.

Government said on Friday that it has the legitimate right to use as much force as necessary to regain control of areas dominated by the Maoists, and made it clear that talks with it could only take place if the ultras abjured violence.