Twenty-two Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces on Wednesday in the forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district bordering Telangana during Operation Sankalp, a massive counter-insurgency initiative, a senior police official said.
Since this operation launched on April 21, at least 35 have taken place between security forces and Naxalites in the Karregutta and adjoining hills surrounded by dense forest, wherein 26 bodies of ultras and around 40 firearms have been recovered, he said.
Over 400 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), approximately 2 tonnes of explosive materials and more than six tonnes of ration items, medicines, daily use materials and other Maoist belongings have been seized during the operation.
Operation Sankalp, one of the biggest counter-insurgency actions launched in the Bastar region, involves around 28,000 security personnel.
These troopers belong to different units, including District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force (STF), all parts of the state police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action).
“Following the latest gunfight that took place this morning in the Karregutta area, bodies of 22 Naxalites have been recovered,” he said, adding that the identity of the slain cadres was yet to be established.
The operation was still underway in the region, spread over nearly 800 sq km on both sides of the inter-state border between Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) and Mulugu and Bhadradri-Kothagudem (Telangana), more than 450 km from the capital Raipur.
With the latest encounter, the toll of Naxalites gunned down under since April 21 has climbed to 26.
The operation was launched based on inputs about the presence of senior cadres of battalion no. 1, the strongest military formation of Maoists, Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and the Telangana state committee of Maoists.
On April 24, three women Naxalites belonging to the PLGA battalion no.1 of Maoists and carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, were gunned down on the Karregutta hills, leading to the recovery of a huge cache of weapons, explosives, and other material.
On May 5, a woman Naxalite was killed in a gunfight with security forces in the area.
The area surrounded by dense forests and lined by hills is believed to be the base of the Maoist battalion no. 1, the police official said.
“The inputs suggest several senior-level Maoist cadres have either been killed or seriously injured during this operation, but their colleagues managed to drag them inside the forest,” he said.
The official said hundreds of Naxal hideouts and bunkers have been so far during the operation, and a huge cache of explosive material, detonators, medicines, and other items was seized.
At least six security personnel, including an official of the CoBRA unit, were injured in different incidents of IED blasts. All the injured jawans are out of danger and are being treated in various hospitals.
“As the operation is currently in progress, specific details cannot be disclosed at this time for security reasons. Further details will be shared at an appropriate time,” the official added.
With the latest action, 168 Naxalites have been gunned down in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh so far this year. Of them, 151 were eliminated in the Bastar division, comprising seven districts, including Bijapur.
