'Naxalism to be wiped out from Chhattisgarh...': Assembly Speaker Raman Singh

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], October 20 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker and former Chief Minister Raman Singh stated on Sunday that the state government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are committed to completely eradicating Naxalism in the coming year.
His statement follow a day after two ITBP jawans lost their lives in an IED attack by Naxals in the Narayanpur district.
Speaking to reporters in Raipur, Singh said, "There is constant pressure on the Naxalites and the joint operation being carried out by security forces in Chhattisgarh is yielding very good results. Approximately 190 Naxalites have been killed in the last one year. This shows the determination of the government and the commitment of Amit Shah that Naxalism will be completely eradicated in the coming year."
Earlier today, Chhattisgarh Minister Tank Ram Verma shouldered and carried the mortal remains of two Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel who lost their lives in an IED attack by Naxals in the Narayanpur district, as a mark of tribute.
Speaking to ANI, Minister Verma said, "I paid tribute to the two ITBP personnel who lost their lives in an IED attack by Naxals in Narayanpur district yesterday. Since the formation of the BJP government in Chhattisgarh, action has been taken against the Naxalites, and their numbers have decreased. The state government is working to make Chhattisgarh free from Naxalites."
Meanwhile, the condition of two Narayanpur district police officials, injured during an encounter with Naxals on Saturday, is improving, according to the Inspector General of Police (IG) for the Bastar Range in Chhattisgarh.
The IG also identified the two ITBP personnel who lost their lives in the IED blast, namely Pawar Amar Shamrao and K Rajesh.
During a joint search operation by the ITBP and Narayanpur police on October 19, Naxals attacked the ITBP patrolling team and carried out a major IED blast.
On Friday, Dantewada police in Chhattisgarh reported that at least 38 Naxal cadres were gunned down in a recent encounter in the forests of Abujhmad, near the Dantewada-Narayanpur border.
According to a statement issued by Dantewada police, 38 Naxalites were killed in the encounter with security forces in the forests of Nendur and Thulthuli villages, near the Dantewada-Narayanpur border. The bodies of 31 cadres have been recovered by the police, and 29 of these have been handed over to their families. All 38 Naxalites killed in the encounter have been identified. (ANI)