Armed Conflict in Bijapur: Identification of Five out of the Thirty-One Dead Maoists, Including a Division Secretary Among the Casualties
In a significant development in the ongoing fight against Naxalism in Chhattisgarh, a joint operation by district reserve guards (DRG), special task force (STF), and Bastar Fighters resulted in a fierce encounter in the Farsegarh forest under the Indravati National Park.
The operation, launched on Sunday, lasted nearly eight hours and claimed the lives of 31 Maoists, including five identified area committee members. Among the deceased were Subhash Ayam, Sonnu, and Ramesh, all identified as top-level Maoist cadres. Notably, Ramesh had a bounty of Rs two lakh on his head.
Another key leader, Hunga Karma, a divisional committee member with a bounty of Rs eight lakh, was also among the deceased. Hunga Hemla, commander of platoon number eleven of Maoists, and three others, each carrying a reward of Rs five lakh, were also killed in the encounter.
A senior Maoist commander, known as Karuna (also Vijay), who had a bounty exceeding two lakh rupees, was among the high-ranking Maoists killed in the encounter. The exact identity of Karuna is yet to be confirmed.
The encounter site yielded a substantial amount of weapons and ammunition. Recovered items include one Ak 47, one SLR, one INSAS rifle, one 303 rifle, one 315-bore rifle, eight 12 bore rifles, one rocket launcher, six BGLs, four muzzle loading rifles, and nine IEDs. Large quantities of explosives and other Naxal materials were also recovered.
Two other security personnel were injured in the incident. The director general of police (DGP) of Chhattisgarh, Arun Dev Gautam, ADG (Naxal operation) Vivekanand Sinha, and Bastar IG Mr Sunderraj inspected the weapons and ammunition recovered at the encounter site.
The Bastar range IG, P Sunderraj, confirmed that the remaining 26 slain Maoists will be identified soon. The identities of the deceased Maoists are yet to be fully confirmed, with several still unidentified.
This encounter marks a significant blow to the Naxal movement in Chhattisgarh, with the loss of key leaders and a substantial amount of weapons and ammunition. The operation underscores the continued commitment of security forces to combat Naxalism and restore peace in the region.
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