Three Naxals and a commando belonging to Anti-Naxalite Force were killed in an encounter at Mavinahola, near the famous temple town of Horanadu in Karnataka, a top police official said.

The encounter took place under Kalasa police station when an ANF team began combing operations following a tip off late Tuesday night. During the operation a gang of four Naxalites [Images], including a woman, started firing at the ANF team, A M Prasad, IGP (Western Range) told PTI from Kalasa over phone.

Following this, the ANF team retaliated. The exchange of fire went on for over two hours till 0430 hrs on Wednesday, in which three Naxalites and a commando, Guruprasad, died on the spot, he said.

The woman Naxalite however managed to flee the scene under cover of darkness, he said.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from near the scene, he said.

Two of the Naxalites who were killed have been identified as Naveen and Manohar, while the third body was yet to be identified, he said.