5 Naxals gunned down in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh

By Tanmay Sakalley
Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 18 (ANI): Five Naxals were gunned down by security forces in two different encounters on the border area of Telangana and Chhattisgarh on the Sukma-Dantewada border respectively, informed P Sundarraj, IG Bastar (Chhattisgarh) on Tuesday.
"An encounter took place in the border area of Telangana-Chhattisgarh in which four Naxals were gunned down by security forces and a Greyhounds jawan was injured in the exchange of fire. The jawan has been airlifted to Warangal for treatment," the IG said in an official statement.
P Sundarraj informed that the Telangana State Committee deployed Greyhounds, DRG, and CRPF forces from Bijapur district on Monday after receiving information of the presence of about 40-50 armed Maoists including senior Maoist leader Sudhakar DVCM, Venkatapuram ACM on the border area of Telangana, and Chhattisgarh.
During the operation, an encounter took place between the security forces and Maoists in the border area of Bijapur's Semaldodi village and Telangana's Penugolu village on Tuesday around 7 am.
He said that a Greyhound's jawan was also injured in the encounter. Later, the jawan was airlifted to Warangal city in Telangana for treatment.
According to initial reports, at least four Maoist cadres were believed to be neutralized in this encounter, while several other Naxals would have sustained serious injuries. Later, during the search operations, three Naxal dead bodies were recovered including one female Naxal cadre from the border area.
One SLR, one INSAS rifle, one single bore weapon, ten rocket launchers, and other kit articles were also recovered from the site.
Meanwhile, an anti-Naxal operation was also conducted on the border of South Bastar district after the security forces received information about the presence of 20-25 Maoists in the area, the statement said.
Following the information, an encounter took place on Tuesday between the DRG team and Maoists in the forest areas of Marjum and Pratapgiri border area of Dantewada and Sukma districts in the morning.
During the encounter, the body of one female Maoist was recovered from the site who has been primarily, identified as Munni, a member of the Area Committee, the statement added.
Searches are underway. (ANI)