Chhattisgarh: 18 security personnel missing after encounter with Maoists

Five personnel of Central Reserve Police Force’s Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were among the 18 security personnel still missing.

Published on: Apr 4, 2021, 09:22:09 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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At least 18 security personnel are missing after Saturday’s encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Terram jungles along the borders of Bijapur and Sukma districts in Bastar region, officials said on Sunday.

Search operation is being carried out to trace missing security personnel. HT Photo/File/Representative use

On Saturday Chhattisgarh police said five security personnel died and 30 sustained injuries during an encounter with the Maoists. The body of a suspected Maoist was also recovered from the encounter spot.

Also Read: 5 jawans die in encounter with Maoists in Bastar, IAF choppers deployed for rescue

“Some security personnel are missing and a search operation is on. Out of the five personnel, who lost their lives on Saturday, we have recovered the body of two and three are still in the jungle,” said director general of police, Chhattisgarh, DM Awasthi.

A senior police official, on the condition of anonymity, said that five personnel of Central Reserve Police Force’s Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were among the 18 security personnel still missing in the jungles.

“The death toll could increase in the next few hours. The teams for evacuation have been sent to the jungles,” said the official.

On Saturday, Chhattisgarh police said that separate joint teams of security forces, over 2,000 in number, launched a major anti-Maoist operation from Bijapur and Sukma districts in the South Bastar forests, considered a Maoist stronghold.

Also Read: PM Modi says ‘sacrifices will never be forgotten’ as 5 jawans die in Bastar encounter

At around 12 noon, the Maoists laid an ambush, following which an encounter started, which lasted for three hours inside the jungle.

On March 23, five jawans of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) were killed while fourteen others were injured in serial IED blasts when alleged Maoists targeted a bus ferrying security personnel in Narayanpur district of Bastar region.

On March 21 last year, 17 security personnel, including 12 from the DRG, were killed in a Maoist ambush in Sukma district of the region.

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

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