Kanker. On Tuesday, security forces killed 29 Naxalites in an encounter in Naxal-affected Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. Three soldiers have also been injured in this incident. Police officials gave this information. Big Naxalite leaders are also likely to be included among the killed Naxalites. This is the first time after the formation of Chhattisgarh state that such a large number of Naxalites have been killed in an encounter.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also holds the Home portfolio, described the encounter as a major success and said the credit for it went to the brave security personnel. Inspector General of Police of Bastar region Sundarraj P said that 29 Naxalites have been killed by security forces in the encounter that took place in the forest of Hapatola village between Binagunda and Coronar villages under Chhotabethia police station area of the district.
Sundarraj said that security forces had received information about the presence of Naxalites Shankar, Lalita, Raju and other Naxalites of North Bastar Division of Maoists. After the information, a joint team of Border Security Force (BSF) and District Reserve Guard (DRG) was sent on patrol in Chhotabethiya police station area. The team was in the forest of Hapatola village at around 2 pm on Tuesday afternoon when the Naxalites opened fire on the security forces. After this the security forces also retaliated.
The police officer said, “According to preliminary information, bodies of 29 Naxalites, a huge quantity of weapons including AK-47 rifle, SLR rifle, INSAS rifle and .303 gun have been recovered from the spot.” Voting in Naxal-affected Bastar Lok Sabha seat will be held in the first phase on April 19 and in Kanker seat, voting will be held in the second phase of general elections on April 26.
Sundarraj said that the search operation is still going on in the area. He said, “Three soldiers have been injured in the encounter. He is being taken to Raipur by air for treatment. The condition of the soldiers is out of danger.” The police officer said that the identity of the killed Naxalites has not been established yet. Prima facie it seems that these Naxalites include big leaders of North Bastar division of Maoists.
Sources in the Union Home Ministry said that two BSF inspectors and a DRG jawan were injured in the firing. Sources said that based on information about the presence of Maoists in Binagunda and surrounding areas, DRG and BSF were sent in anti-Naxal operation late on Monday evening (April 15). He said that the Home Ministry had shared five pieces of information with the security forces, in which there was information about the presence of Maoists from North Bastar region in Binagunda area. Naxalites were living here by setting up a camp since April 5.
Shankar and Lalita (both Divisional Committee members, North Bastar Division) are also believed to have been killed in this encounter. Search operation is going on in the area. With this incident, so far this year, security forces have killed 79 Naxalites in separate encounters in seven districts of Bastar region including Kanker. On 2nd of this month, 13 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district, while on 27th March, six Naxalites were killed.
State Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma termed the encounter as a ‘surgical strike’ on Naxalism by Bastar Police and said, ‘This is the first time on the anti-Naxal front that the security forces completely dominated in a hand-to-hand fight. “They did not give the Naxalites a chance to recover.”
Sharma said, “This campaign was conducted in an area of Maad, south of Kanker and north of Narayanpur. A large number of Naxalites were killed in this. For this I want to give credit to the security forces. This has been possible due to the strength of CRPF, DRG and CAF soldiers. I also praise the police officers for this. We are working under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai. The great guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah is behind this.”
The state Home Minister said, “The people of Bastar should get clean water, electricity and benefit from development. We want to communicate. Whether they do it in a group or through representatives. Bastar needs peace. We are committed to this.” He said that Tuesday’s operation has boosted the morale of the security forces. Ever since the double engine government (BJP rule at the Center and the state) has been formed in the state, many positive things are being seen on the anti-Naxal front. He said that many new camps have been established in the den of Naxalites in Bastar region. In four months, about 80 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters with security forces.
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Tags: Maoist, Naxalite
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 16, 2024, 23:43 IST