The incident took place in the forest between Tamodi and Madpal villages under Mirtur police station limits last evening, Bijapur Deputy Superintendent of Police Sukhnandan Rathore told PTI over phone.
A joint team of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), a specialised unit of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and district police force were on a combing operation in the Gangalur, Mirtur and Bhairmagarh region, located around 450 km away from the state capital Raipur, he said.
Naxals started firing on them in the forest of Tamodi-Madpal, and a fierce exchange of fire took place, the DSP said.
The deceased Naxal was yet to be identified, Rathore said.