2 Chhattisgarh police personnel, 9 Maoists killed in an encounter in Sukma

The senior officer said the two DRG personnel were killed while fighting with the Maoists in their core area. He said the process to evacuate the jawans, who died, has started and more details are yet to come.

Updated on: Nov 26, 2018, 19:40:09 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Nine Maoists and two personnel of the state police were killed in a gun battle in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Monday afternoon, officials said.

The encounter is taking place near Saklar village under Kistaram police station area. (Representative image)

The encounter took place near Saklar village under Kistaram police station area.

“We have recovered the bodies of nine Maoists till now,” said special director general of police (anti-Naxal operations) DM Awasthi.

“A joint team of DRG (District Reserve Guard), CRPF and special task force (STF) have cordoned off the area,” Awasthi said.

The senior officer said the two DRG personnel were killed while fighting with the Maoists in their core area.

A total of 1,200 security personnel from STF, DRG, CRPF’s CoBRA and special teams from Telangana took part in ‘Operation Prahar-4’, launched on Sunday in Battalion 1 area of Naxals in Saletong,Bade Kedwal,Sakler and nearby areas.

“The District Reserve Guard (DRG) team reached Sakler this morning and an encounter started at around 9:40 am. It continued for around one and a half hours,” Awasthi said, adding that of the nine Maoists killed, two carried a reward of ₹8 lakh.

Arms, ammunition and IEDs have been recovered, he said, adding, “We had information that Naxals threw some weapons in a pond near Sakler also. Forces tried to recover the weapons and entered the pond also. During this, Naxals again opened fire in the afternoon and two DRG jawans lost their lives”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More