Security forces killed 29 Naxalites in Kanker.
Before the voting of the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024, the back-breaking news of Naxalism came to light from Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. On Tuesday, security forces conducted an operation and killed 29 Naxalites. Three soldiers have also been injured in this incident. Big Naxalite leaders are also likely to be included among the killed Naxalites. This is the first time after the formation of Chhattisgarh state that such a large number of Naxalites have been killed in an encounter. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also holds the Home portfolio, described the encounter as a major success and said the credit for it went to the brave security personnel. This operation has also been appreciated by Home Minister Amit Shah.
This is how the biggest operation was carried out
On Tuesday afternoon, security forces used accurate intelligence information and tremendous coordination to carry out this operation against Naxalites in Naxal-affected Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. Inspector General of Police of Bastar region Sundarraj P. said that strong intelligence input was received about the presence of Naxalites in the forest of Hapatola village under Chhotabethia police station area of Kanker district. In these, information was received about the presence and exact location of Naxalites Shankar, Lalita, Raju and other Maoists of North Bastar Division. After this intelligence, a joint team of BSF and District Reserve Guard (DRG) became active in Chhotabethiya police station area. Both of them made coordination for the operation and the search operation was started by surrounding the forest with careful steps.
Sometimes hiding in trees and sometimes lying on the ground… 29 Naxalites were killed.
After getting an inkling of security forces in the forest near Hapatola village, Naxalites started firing. By then they were surrounded from all sides and the security forces simultaneously started retaliating. Sometimes hiding in the trees and sometimes lying on the ground, the BSF and Reserve Guard soldiers started taking precise aim and killed 29 Naxalites one by one.
The entire clan of Naxalites was destroyed.
It is being told that the entire clan of Naxalites present here has been destroyed. The bodies of all of them have been recovered and a huge amount of ammunition including AK-47 rifle, SLR rifle, INSAS rifle and 303 guns have been recovered from the crime scene. The slain Naxalites have not been identified yet. Prima facie it seems that these Naxalites include big leaders of North Bastar division of Maoists. Union Home Ministry sources said that two BSF inspectors and a DRG jawan were injured in the firing.
Effect of new strategy, 29 Naxalites killed
The security forces had surrounded the Naxalites from all sides and did not allow them to move forward, due to which the searching team from one side finished the work of the Naxalites. DIG BSF Alok Singh said, “This was a big intelligence base operation of BSF. We and the DRG team were engaged in operation in the Eastern Side area of Kotri for 2 days. The area of Abujhmad is considered the hub of Naxalites. Our commando and DRG team had been practicing this for a long time. We changed our operational strategy to particular operations. Adopted the technique of force deflection and different direction of mobilization. We had to surprise the Naxalites, we surprised them and got success.
He said, “There are a lot of hills here, so it is very challenging to perform the operation here.” Naxalites could not even imagine that we could ever attack them from this eastern area. We attacked in which Naxalites had to suffer heavy losses, 29 Naxalites were killed. 19 automatic weapons have been found. Many Naxalites have been injured. We will soon plan a major operation on the injured Naxalites. You will get news soon.
80 Naxalites killed in separate encounters in four months
With this incident, so far this year, security forces have killed 80 Naxalites in separate encounters in seven districts of Bastar region including Kanker. On 2nd of this month, 13 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district. Whereas on March 27, six Naxalites were killed.
Deputy CM Vijay Sharma termed the encounter as a “surgical strike” on Naxalism by the Bastar Police, saying, “This is the first time on the anti-Naxal front that the security forces completely dominated in a hand-to-hand fight. They managed to handle the Naxalites. Not given a chance.” He said that Tuesday's operation has boosted the morale of the security forces. About 80 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters with the security forces in four months.
(Report- Sikandar Ali)
