Sukma (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 19 (HBTV): A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp has been established on a remote hilltop in the Gogunda area of Naxal-affected Sukma district in Chhattisgarh, in a location where neither a motorable road nor even a basic foot track previously existed.
According to officials, the new camp is expected to significantly strengthen area domination, improve road connectivity and facilitate the delivery of government welfare schemes to long-neglected tribal villages in the region.
Meanwhile, security forces have recovered the bodies of at least 18 Maoists killed in an exchange of fire during an anti-Naxal operation along the Bijapur–Dantewada border in the Bastar region, an official said on Friday.
The encounter between Maoists and security forces lasted nearly 12 hours, during which three District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans were killed in action.
Bastar Inspector General of Police P. Sundarraj told reporters that Divisional Committee Member and PLGA Company No. 2 Commander Billa Moudiyami, along with another company commander, had been neutralised.
He said, ‘In the search operation after the encounter, the dead bodies of around 18 Maoists were recovered. The search operation is still ongoing. Divisional Committee Member and PLGA Company No. 2 Commander Billa Moudiyami and another company commander have been killed. The other killed Maoists are being identified.’
‘A significant number of weapons, including LMG, SLR, AK-47, .303 weapons and graded weapons, have been recovered from the encounter site. The clash continued for nearly 12 hours,’ he added.
Two DRG jawans, including Somdev Yadav, sustained injuries during the operation. Officials confirmed that both are out of danger and are undergoing treatment in Raipur.
Authorities said security forces are continuing combing operations in the area.
IG Sundarraj said, ‘As per the intent of the Government of India and the Government of Chhattisgarh, and in line with the wishes of the people of the state, security forces are regularly carrying out operations against Naxalites in the Bastar division. Yesterday, based on specific inputs about the presence of Naxalites in the border areas of Bijapur and Dantewada, a joint team of DRG Bijapur, DRG Dantewada, STF, CoBRA and CRPF launched an operation. During the operation, cross-firing took place between Naxalites and the security forces from around 9 am.’
Final respects were paid to the three DRG jawans who were killed in the line of duty while combating Maoists in the forests of the Bijapur–Dantewada region. A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Bijapur police lines for DRG Bijapur Head Constable Monu Vadadi, Constable Dukaru Gonde and jawan Ramesh Sodhi, who laid down their lives during Wednesday’s encounter. (ANI)