Raipur: The security forces recovered a US-made weapon following the encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district last month, police said on Sunday. Police launched a probe to find out how Maoists procured the sophisticated weapon.

Four Maoists were gunned down by the security forces in an encounter at Pomra forest under Mirtur police station limits on November 26, an official said.

At least four weapons were recovered in the operation, of which one is a US-made M1 carbine, he said.

The barrel of the foreign-made weapon is small compared to other assault rifles and it is convenient to handle, the official said.

As per the serial number of the recovered firearm, the police have launched a probe to ascertain how and from where the Maoists had procured such a sophisticated weapon, he said.

Earlier in December 2011 and April 2014, two 7.65 mm automatic pistols with the 'Made in USA' marks were recovered after encounters with Maoists in Rowghat and Bhanupratappur areas of Kanker district.

In 2018, a rifle with a 'Made in Germany' mark was recovered after a gun battle with Maoists in Sukma district and a sub-machine gun of US make was seized in Narayanpur district.