Days after 29 Naxalites were killed in an encounter, Bastar Inspector General of Police (IG) P Sundarraj said on Friday that people are reaching the polling booths with full enthusiasm and confidence in the region as three-layer cordon security arrangements have been made in the area.
A day after 29 Naxalites were killed in a major encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh, Bastar Inspector General of Police (IG) P Sundarraj said on Wednesday that 71 naxals have been gunned down till date since January, and the fight against naxals is at the "deciding step."
The fierce firefight that broke out on Tuesday ended on Wednesday, the security forces informed through an official release, adding that the toll on the Naxal side could mount further as many more are believed to be injured and are still not accounted for.
Ten Naxals including a woman Naxalite were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur, Bastar IG, P Sundarraj said on Tuesday.
Four Naxals were gunned down and some weapons were recovered from their possession during an encounter that broke out between the Leftwing outlaws and security forces in the Bijapur district on Tuesday.
Officials said the operation indicates a significant blow to the Naxal insurgency in the region as security forces intensify efforts to combat the threat posed by the extremist group.
The encounter broke out between Maoists and the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a unit of the Chhattisgarh Police, in a forest near Kanker's Hidur village under the Chhotebethiya police station during a search operation on Sunday morning.
According to Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) P. Sundarraj, the incident occurred near Tekalgudem village when a joint team of security personnel was out on a search operation.
In view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to poll-bound Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, security arrangements have been beefed up, said Inspector General of Police of Bastar, P Sundarraj.
According to Inspector General Bastar P Sundarraj, the injured security personnel is an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the 231 Battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
"There was an exchange of fire between Maoists and security forces in the Basaguda-Pamed-Usor tri-junction area of Bijapur district. Security forces are fine; any damage to naxals would be clear only after the completion of search operations," Inspector General Bastar P Sundarraj said.