New Delhi, Jan 17: Amidst large scale surrender by Naxalites in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh a couple of days ago, reports of fresh encounter between security forces and Naxalites are reported from the same region in the state on Saturday. Exchange of fire is reported from the Northwestern part of Bastar which is a hilly and forested area of the district.
Bastar Inspector General of Police P. Sundarraj confirmed that the encounter. This is a part of anti-Naxal operation in the area, though further details are awaited as forces work to secure the site and assess the damages on the ground.
Security personnel moved into the forested hills based on specific intelligence of Naxalite presence, leading to the confrontation with the insurgents, the official said.
On Thursday as many as 52 Naxalites among which 49 carrying a collective bounty of over rupees 1.41 crore, surrendered before the police in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district.
Among the 52, around 21 were women cadres belonging to the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) on the Andhra-Odisha Border division and Bhamragarh area committee (Maharashtra).
In early January security forces had killed top leaders of the Maoist movement, Mangtu (DVCM) and Hunga Madkam, in two separate encounters in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur districts in the Bastar region.
Govt of India had emphasized that the entire region will be made Naxal free before 2026 Bastar olympics. It has also set a timeline of March 31, 2026 to wipe out Naxalism from the country. (Agencies)
