Chhattisgarh cop injured in encounter with Maoists dies during evacuation

Bad weather and hostile terrain hampered the evacuation of the two injured policemen. One of them, Raju Netam, died by the time they were evacuated.

Published on: Aug 25, 2019, 16:17:37 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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A Chhattisgarh policeman who was injured in an encounter with Maoists on Saturday afternoon in Narayanpur district of Bastar region succumbed to injuries later in the night, police said Sunday.

The police team seized explosives , ammunition and documents from the site of the encounter. (HT PHOTO)

The policeman was part of team which raided a training camp of Maoists in Abujmaad jungles and killed five rebels in the encounter. Around a hundred policemen took part in the raid.

Two jawans, Raju Netam and Somaru Gota, were also injured in the gun battle.

“Raju Netam, a jawan of district reserve guard, who had sustained critical bullet injuries in his abdomen, died during evacuation from the jungle,” Narayanpur’s superintendent of police Mohit Garg said.

Bad weather and hostile terrain hampered the evacuation of the two injured policemen. The team took a few hours to reach the nearest police station at Orchha, 20 km away at around 10.30 pm in the night and when doctors were called, Raju was declared brought dead.

Five Maoists were also killed in the encounter. The police team seized a huge cache of weapons, explosives and documents from the spot, the SP said.

Gota was sent to Raipur where he is under treatment and his condition is said to be stable.

“The security personnel brought their injured colleagues on cots on their shoulders,” Garg said.

Police said that this is the first time in 2019 that they managed to go deep in Abujmad and challenge Maoists.

“There were about 50 Maoists when the encounter started. Our team demolished a military training camp of the Maoists but we lost one of brave jawan. We believe more Maoists were killed in the incident but the Maoists managed to drag their bodies in the jungles,” said Chhattisgarh’s Director Genral of Police, DM Awasthi.

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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