Bijapur: Police officials said that a fierce encounter with the security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district Saturday evening killed eight Maoists. A joint team of security personnel was involved in an anti-Naxalite operation in a dense forest under Gangaloor police station limits when the gunfight began in the morning around 8:30 and continued for some time.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sunderaj P told that besides the men of DRG (District Reserve Guard), STF (Special Task Force) and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and its crack unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) were on the ground aiding in the operation.
“Friday’s operation was launched after intelligence inputs of Maoists from the West Bastar Division,” Sunderaj said.
The operation saw eight Maoists neutralized as per initial reports. Security forces continue search and combing operations in the region but are yet to share further details.
It is the latest in a number of successful operations against Maoists in Chhattisgarh. It has been the year with 48 Maoists killed in various encounters in the state.
On January 16 earlier, 12 Maoists were killed in another encounter in Bijapur district. But the Maoists later said 18 of their cadres died in that gunfight in the statement.
Preferring to remain silent about Maoist insurgency, security forces in Chhattisgarh, particularly in the Bastar region, have intensified anti-Naxal operations. Intelligence-based operations of the state government and central forces have been working together to weaken the insurgent network.
Officials assured that although combing operations will go on in Bijapur and other Maoist-affected districts, there will be no compromise in ensuring the safety of the people and maintaining law and order in the region.
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