BIG BREAKTHROUGH! TEN NAXALS GUNNED DOWN IN CHHATTISGARH'S NARAYANPUR-KANKER BORDER

Ten Naxals, including three women, were gunned down on Tuesday during an encounter with security forces along the border area of Narayanpur and Kanker districts in Chhattisgarh. This is the second major strike on Naxalites in 15 days.

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, in a video statement, termed it as a major success in the anti-Naxal operation in the State.

According to police, the latest gunfight took place at around 6 a.m. in the forest between Tekmeta and Kakur villages in Abhujmad area, considered as a stronghold of Naxalites, when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) was out on an anti-Naxal operation.

The operation was launched on April 29 night and the encounter took place in the Abhujmad area on the border of Narayanpur and Kanker districts on April 30 morning, said Deputy CM Sharma, who also holds Home portfolio.

"Nine Naxalites, including three women, were gunned down and their bodies have been recovered. No harm was reported to security personnel in the face-off," he said.

An AK-47 rifle and a cache of other arms, ammunition and explosives were also seized from the spot, he said, terming the action as a major success.

Sharma congratulated the security personnel for the success.

He also appealed to Naxalites to give up arms and join the mainstream.

"The State Government led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai wants a solution to this issue through talks. If any Naxalite, or a big or small group wants to talk through video call or a mediator, we are ready and will arrange better rehabilitation for them. We urge them to join the mainstream. We want peace to prevail in Bastar and development to take place there," Sharma said.

The identity of the killed Naxalites was yet to be ascertained, police said.

With this incident, 88 Naxalites have been killed so far this year in separate encounters with security forces in the State’s Bastar region, comprising seven districts including Narayanpur and Kanker, according to police.

On April 16, 29 Naxalites were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Kanker district.

(With inputs from PTI)

2024-04-30T12:40:45Z dg43tfdfdgfd