Raipur
In a fierce clash between security forces and left-wing extremists on Friday, fourteen Maoists were purportedly killed at the border of Dantewada and Narayanpur districts in Bastar. The security forces recovered AK-47s, SLRs, and other weapons during the search operation following the encounter.
The encounter occurred in the forest area between Nendur and Thulthuli villages, falling under the jurisdiction of Orchha police station. The sporadic firing continued for two hours, and after it ceased, the security forces conducted a search operation, leading to the discovery of the bodies and automatic weapons. Personnel from both Narayanpur and Dantewada districts had been deployed for the Naxal operation a day prior to the incident.
On the same day, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai was visiting Dantewada. Alongside Speaker Dr. Raman Singh, he inaugurated and laid the foundation for development projects worth Rs 167.21 crore. They also handed over keys for bus operations to women from self-help groups.
In a separate incident, a significant amount of Naxal material was recovered from Sukma district following an encounter on the previous day. This marked the second encounter in Sukma within a span of 10 days. In the earlier encounter on September 24, two Naxalites were killed, but their comrades managed to take away their bodies.
Another encounter took place on August 29 in the Abujhmad area near the Narayanpur-Kanker border, resulting in the death of three uniformed female Naxalites. They were identified as members of the North Bastar Division Committee and PLGA Company No. 05.
According to Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Sundarraj P, over 160 Naxalites have been killed in encounters so far in 2024. Additionally, during the monsoon season in the Bastar division, more than 212 Naxalites were arrested, and 201 Naxalites surrendered as part of the anti-Naxal campaign.
