Chhattisgarh encounter: Over 10 Maoists killed in Sukma, 2 in Bijapur
Security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district neutralized over ten Maoists in a fierce encounter on Saturday, with the operation still ongoing. In a separate incident in Bijapur, two Naxals were killed during an anti-insurgency operation. These significant clashes highlight the continued efforts against Maoist activities in the region.
RAIPUR: At least 14 Maoists were killed in separate encounters with security forces in the southern regions of Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur districts in Bastar on Saturday, as an anti-insurgency operation entered its final stages.Bodies of 14 Maoists were recovered during search operations launched in the southern areas of Bijapur and Sukma following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of armed cadres. Of the total, two Maoists were killed in Bijapur and 12 in Sukma.
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The operations were carried out by District Reserve Guard (DRG) teams deployed in the South Bastar region. Officials said intermittent exchanges of fire began around 5 am in Bijapur, while similar firing was reported in Sukma district from about 8 am.During searches at the encounter sites, security forces recovered a large cache of weapons, including AK-47s, INSAS rifles, and SLRs, a police statement said.As the operations are still underway, officials refrained from disclosing the exact locations of the encounters, the strength of the forces involved, or other sensitive operational details, citing security concerns for personnel in the field.Among the 12 Maoists killed in Sukma was Sachin Mangtu (DVCM) of the Konta Area Committee, who died in an exchange of fire in the district’s forests.
Police sources further claimed that all Maoist commanders allegedly involved in the killing of Konta ASP Akash Rao Girepunje have now been neutralised during the ongoing operations.Sukma SP Kiran Chavan and Bijapur SP Jitendra Yadav were monitoring the operations on the ground, while combing and search operations continue in the surrounding areas to rule out the presence of additional Maoists.A detailed account of the operations and their outcomes will be shared after the conclusion of the search and combing exercises, officials added.