Nine Naxalites, including three women, were killed by security forces in an encounter on Tuesday in a forest along the border of Narayanpur and Kanker districts in Chhattisgarh.
This is the second major strike on Naxalites by security forces in just 15 days.
A video statement has been released by Chhattisgarh’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma in which he termed the killing of nine Naxalites a major success in the anti-Naxal operation in the state.
Sharma informed that the operation was launched on Monday (April 29) night and the encounter took place in the Abhujmad area on the border of Narayanpur and Kanker districts on Tuesday morning,
As per police, the latest gunfight took place around 6 am on Tuesday in the forest between Tekmeta and Kakur villages in Abhujmad area when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) was out on an anti-Naxal operation.
Abhujmad area is considered as a stronghold of Naxalites.
The identity of the killed Naxalites was yet to be ascertained, police said.
“Nine Naxalites, including three women, were gunned down and their bodies have been recovered. No harm was reported to security personnel in the face-off,” Sharma said.
An AK-47 rifle and a cache of other arms, ammunition and explosives were also seized from the spot, the Deputy CM, who also holds Home portfolio, said.
The minister congratulated the security personnel for the success.
Give up arms & join mainstream
Sharma, in his video message, also appealed to Naxalites to give up arms and join the mainstream.
“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,” Sharma said.
According to police, including Tuesday’s (April 30) incident, 88 Naxalites have been killed so far this year in separate encounters with security forces in the state’s Bastar region, comprising seven districts including Narayanpur and Kanker.
On April 16, as many as 29 Naxalites were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Kanker district.
With inputs from PTI
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9 Naxalites, including 3 women, killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh; 88 killed so far this year
