Security forces kill 12 Maoists in gunfight in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur
- In Reports
- 07:32 PM, May 10, 2024
- Myind Staff
Chhattisgarh Police and security personnel engaged in a gunfight in Bijapur district, resulting in the deaths of twelve Maoists, according to officials familiar with the incident.
Authorities reported that the gunfight occurred in a forest near Pidia village within the jurisdiction of Gangaloor police station as a security team conducted an anti-Naxal operation.
Police recovered 12 arms, including a Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL) launcher, one 12-bore rifle, and muzzle-loading rifles from the incident spot. Officials stated that the bodies of the Maoists are yet to be identified.
According to officials, a joint team of state police, including the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), Bastariya Battalion, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with its elite guerrilla unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), conducted an operation on Thursday night.
“The operation was planned following intelligence input from a prominent Maoist leader located in the forests of Pida, approximately 55 kilometers from the district headquarters of Bijapur. Twelve bodies of Maoists have been recovered so far from the encounter site, and the combing operation will continue,” said Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Bastar, Kamalochan Kashyap.
On April 16, security forces engaged and killed 29 Naxalites in an encounter in the Kanker district of the state. With the recent incidents, a total of 99 Maoists have been killed in gunfights with security forces in the first four months of 2024 alone. In response, Maoist insurgents have killed 21 civilians in 2024 and 41 civilians in 2023.
Deputy Chief Minister and State Home Minister Vijay Sharma praised the team's efforts, stating, “In the last month, security forces have conducted a series of encounters. This time, the encounter occurred in the jungles of Pidia. It was a successful operation in Bijapur, and I commend the security forces for their achievement.”
Sharma reiterated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's firm stance on dealing with Maoists.
“We are open to dialogue with Maoists, urging the youth to lay down their arms and engage in developmental activities. Our focus is on fostering development in the remote villages of Bastar. However, if Maoists persist in violence, they will be ousted from Bastar,” Sharma stated.
RK Vij, former Director General of Police in Chhattisgarh, expressed concerns about the ongoing encounters in the dense forests of Bastar, foreseeing a detrimental impact on Maoist recruitment.
“Pidia, once a Maoist stronghold in Bastar, hosted key Maoist gatherings. The security forces' operation in this jungle marks a significant achievement. These encounters are likely to hinder Maoist recruitment efforts,” Vij commented.
Image source: Hindustan Times
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