NEW DELHI, Jan 16: As many as 12 Naxalites were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Thursday. This brings the total number of Naxalites killed in separate encounters in the state this month so far to 26.
The gunfight began around 9 am in a forested area of southern Bijapur during an anti-Naxalite operation, officials said, adding that intermittent exchange of fire continued until late evening
The operation involved personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of three districts, five battalions of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, an elite CRPF jungle warfare unit), and the 229th battalion of the CRPF.
“As per preliminary information, 12 Naxalites were killed in the gunfight. Further details were awaited as a search operation was still underway in the area,” the official said. No casualties were reported among the security forces, he added.
On January 12, three suspected Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in the National Park area of Bastar’s Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, police said. Following the encounter, security personnel recovered the bodies of three uniformed Maoists, according to a statement from Bijapur police. The operation, initiated on January 11, was launched based on intelligence regarding Maoist activity in the region’s dense forests.
Earlier, on January 9, three Naxalites were killed in another encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district. Deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma confirmed the success of the anti-Naxal operation, commending the efforts of the security forces. The encounter occurred during a joint anti-Naxal operation by security forces in a forested area along the Sukma-Bijapur border.
(Manas Dasgupta)
