NEW DELHI, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Two border guards belonging to India's paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) were killed and another wounded in gunfight with left-wing Naxalite rebels in central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said Sunday.

The gunfight broke out early during predawn hours at 3:45 a.m. local time in Barkot village of Kanker district, about 265 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

"In a gunfight today inside forest area falling under Partapur jurisdiction near Mahla camp between Naxals and border guards, two BSF men were killed and one wounded," a police official said.

"The BSF contingent was attacked when it was returning after carrying out an anti-Naxal operation."

Reports said the Naxal rebels attacked the BSF from two sides, thereby triggering a gunfight that went on for a while. Following the attack, the Naxals managed to flee from the area.

Police and security agencies rushed reinforcements to the area to remove the wounded border guard to hospital.

The left-wing insurgency began in the eastern state of West Bengal in late 1960s, spreading to more than one-third of India's administrative districts.

New Delhi has deployed several companies of its paramilitary forces to take on Naxals in their strongholds.

Reports say the insurgency has claimed more than 6,000 lives and rendered thousands of poor inhabitants homeless.