Bijapur: Chhattisgarh’s armed forces achieved a significant victory in a joint anti-insurgency operation against the banned CPI Maoist in the Pujari-Kanker area of Bijapur on Thursday, reportedly resulting in the deaths of 10-12 Maoists, according to police sources. However, official confirmation of the fatalities has not been released, yet.
The operation involved District Reserve Guard (DRG) of Bijapur, as well as Sukma and Dantewada, and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)-204, 205,206,208,210, 229.
Acting on intelligence about the presence of high-ranking Maoist leaders and armed Naxals in the area, security forces conducted a combing operation that began around 9 a.m.
Fierce gunfights broke out intermittently between the forces and the armed Naxals, during which 10-12 Naxals were reported killed.
Inspector General of Bastar Range Sundarraj P confirmed the high casualties among the armed Naxals during the encounter, noting that fighting continues in some areas.
Final casualty figures will be available once the bodies of the deceased Naxal cadres are recovered and brought to the district police headquarters. A senior police officer indicated the Naxals faced considerable losses during the encounter.
In a separate incident, two Cobra Battalion soldiers sustained severe injuries when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated during a search operation in the Putkel camp area of Bijapur.
The critically injured soldiers were rescued and taken to the district hospital for treatment after one of them accidentally triggered the pressure IED, resulting in significant leg injuries.
