At least 29 Maoists were killed and three security forces personnel injured in a major encounter in the Kanker district of Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, The Indian Express reported on Tuesday citing a BSF security personnel.
“The area was searched and 29 bodies of Naxals along with a huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the spot. Three jawans who were injured in the encounter are out of danger and are being airlifted elsewhere for better treatment,” Bastar’s Inspector General Sundarraj P told IE.
Confirming that the operation saw the highest number of casualties in Bastar region, Sundarraj said, “The encounter site is a trijunction between Abujhmad (in Narayanpur district), Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra, and north Bastar. We had information about senior cadre like Lalita, Shankar and Raju being on the spot. Acting on this information, a joint team of DRG and BSF was sent to the spot,” the official said.
A BSF spokesperson said earlier that a joint operation was launched a Joint Operation by teams of BSF (COB Chotebetiya) on April 16 based on specific intelligence. “While the operation was still under progress, BSF Ops party came under fire from CPI Maoist cadres, and BSF troops effectively retaliated against them. One BSF personnel sustained bullet injury on his leg and is out of danger after being evacuated.”
A search operation by security forces has been launched in the area. The encounter took place under the jurisdiction of Chotebetiya police station. Seven AK-series rifles and three Light Machine Guns have been recovered, an official said, adding that three security personnel have suffered injuries in the encounter but are out of danger.
The Indian Express cited sources as saying that Shankar and Lalita, divisional committee members of the CPI Maoist’s North Bastar Division, are believed to be amongst those killed.
The incident comes just days ahead of voting in the Kanker Lok Sabha constituency which goes to polls in the second phase of elections on April 26. Polling in Bastar is scheduled to be held in the first phase on April 19 where over 60,000 security personnel have been deployed.
In a major operation on April 2, securoty forces had gunned down 13 Maoists in Bijapur in what was termed as the biggest anti-Naxal operation by security personnel in recent years.
During Assembly elections in the state last year, a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan who was escorting a polling party team to set up a polling booth in the jurisdiction of Chotebetiya police station was injured in an IED blast on November 7. He succumbed to his injuries a day later. Two polling party officials had also suffered injuries in the blast.
Security forces have stepped up their anti-Naxal operations this year, killing 50 Maoists in 2024 so far. Also, 18 civilians and six security personnel have lost their lives in Maoist violence this year.