Narayanpur/Raipur: Nine Naxalites — three women and six men — were killed in an encounter with security forces on the border of Narayanpur and Kanker districts of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday morning, police said.
This was a second major blow to the Naxalites within 15 days. The site of Tuesday's early morning encounter was 30 km south of Kalper village in Kanker, where 29 Naxalites were killed in a gunfight with security forces on April 16, said a senior police official.
The encounter took place around 6 am in the forest between Tekmeta and Kakur villages in Abhujmad area, a Naxalite stronghold, when a joint team of the police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) was out on an anti-Naxal operation, a senior police official said.
The operation had been launched on Monday night based on inputs about the presence of armed Maoists in the region, he said.
Police have recovered the bodies of the slain Naxals. They also seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including one AK-47, an INSAS rifle and explosives, along with items of daily use from the encounter spot.
According to information, the police while acting on the tip-off were conducting search operations in the bordering territory of Narayanpur and Kanker in Abhujmad jungle.
The area reportedly covered with dense forest provides safe shelter and Naxals often conduct TCOC (tactical counter offensive campaign) before the onset of monsoon season.
The Maoists opened fire at a police searching/advancing team (composed of DRG and STF personnel), sensing the threat of an ambush.
In retaliatory gun firing by the police, at least 9 Naxalites, both men and women, were killed. Sources informed DH that the Naxalites had constructed underground bunkers to take shelter and also cook, if required, while hiding out. Among the dead include the Naxal cadre's DVC (divisional commander) and CC (company commander).
IG Bastar Sunderraj P confirmed the news about the successful operation that comes soon after the April 16 encounter, in which joint teams of the DRG and STF killed 29 Naxalites — 15 women and 14 men — in an encounter in Kanker district.
The Deputy CM Vijay Sharma, who is also home affairs minister, in his X account message complemented the security personnel and also appealed to the Maoists to give up violence and join mainstream society.
He said the encounter took place in Abujhmad jungle, some 45 km from district headquarters. "The good news about the operation was that it was executed with utmost precision without any injury on our side (the security forces). Meanwhile we want peace in the state and therefore appeal to the Maoists to surrender their arms."
Deputy CM Sharma further noted, "The state government led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai wants a solution to this issue through talks. If any Naxalite, or a big or small group wants to talk through video call or a mediator, we are ready and will arrange better rehabilitation for them. We urge them to join the mainstream. We want peace to prevail in Bastar and development to take place there."
As many as 91 Naxalites have been killed this year so far in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region which comprises seven districts including Narayanpur and Kanker, according to police.
(With PTI inputs)
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