According to an official on Thursday, security forces killed 10 Naxalites including senior commander and Central Committee (CC) member Manoj alias Modem Balakrishna during an encounter in Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh.
Earlier in the day, Inspector General of Raipur Range (IG) Amresh Mishra said, “The encounter between the security forces and the Naxalites in Gariaband continues and there is intermittent firing. Some Naxalites are likely to be killed.”
More information is awaited. In the first day, in a similar incident, security forces killed a Naxalite in an encounter in the Kanker-Narayanpur border area. Officials said that the Naxalites have been identified as a member of the PLGA Military Company 05, on which the prize of Rs 8 lakh was declared. The encounter took place in the hill forest area of Gedabanda village of Partapur police station. The security forces also recovered a .303 rifle and a walkie-talkie from the spot.
Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Sundararaj P said that despite difficult geographical conditions and harsh weather, the police and security forces posted in Bastar are working with full devotion to protect life and property in line with the intention of the Government of India and the Government of Chhattisgarh.
The Inspector General of Police appealed to the Maoist activists to accept the reality that Maoism is on the verge of ending. “Now the time has come to leave the path of violence and join the mainstream by taking advantage of the government’s rehabilitation policy. If they continue illegal and violent activities, they will have to face serious consequences.”
Recently, 30 Naxalites surrendered and rehabilitated in Bijapur district of Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said that surrender and rehabilitation of 30 Naxalites in Bijapur is the result of the state government’s rehabilitation policy, efforts of security forces and ongoing development works. He also urged the Naxalites to join the mainstream and improve their lives.
Speaking to ANI, Sharma said, “30 Naxalites have been rehabilitated in Bijapur in Bastar region. It is one of the largest number of ever.
