RAIPUR: Nine Maoists were killed in a fierce encounter on the Dantewada-Bijapur border in Bastar division on Tuesday, taking the year’s toll to 201. Six of them are women, reports Rashmi Drolia.
This is the second major offensive operation by security forces in less than a week – last Thursday, three women Maoists were shot dead on the Kanker-Narayanpur border.
Tuesday’s encounter was still on and gunshots were being heard at brief intervals, Dantewada SP Gaurav Rai said in the evening.
“Considering the possibility of more Maoists being killed or injured, reinforcements have been sent to search the encounter site,” Bastar Range IG P Sundarraj said.
“There were specific inputs about the presence of 35-40 Maoists from PLGA military company 2, Darbha division committee and West Bastar division in the forests bordering Dantewada-Bijapur district,” the SP said.
Representational
The first gunfight broke out around 10.30am in the forest hills of Lohagaon, Andri and Purengel in Kirandul region (430km south of Raipur), Rai said. “Nine bodies of Naxalites, in PLGA uniform, were recovered from the spot along with weapons and explosives,” SP Rai said.
Police are yet to identify the dead Maoists but believe there may be senior commanders among them, say sources. All the security personnel were safe, said Rai.
It will take some time for jawans to return to base with the bodies as the treacherous terrain is around 35kms from the district headquarters. The IG said 669 Maoists have been arrested this year and 656 have surrendered in Bastar.
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