(News Agencies) New Delhi, April 4: A massive search operation in the Bijapur-Sukma areas of Chhattisgarh, where the encounter with left-wing extremists took place yesterday, are being carried out, officials in the security establishment confirmed that a group of an estimated 400 Maoists had ambushed the forces leading to the killing of at least 22 personnel and injuries to 30 others with one still missing.
The anti-Naxal operation was launched by a strong contingent of about 1,500 troops drawn from CRPF'S specialised jungle warfare unit CoBRA, a few of them from its regular battalions, a unit of its Bastariya battalion, the Chhattisgarh Police affiliated District Reserve Guard (DRG) and others.
It was a “search and destroy” operation along the border of Bijapur-Sukma district around noon yesterday after they got inputs about the presence of Maoists in the area, the officials said.
A senior security officer said at least 400 Naxals led by the most wanted Maoist commander and leader of the so-called “People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion no 1'—Hidma—and his associate Sujatha are suspected to be behind the Saturday ambush.
The area, where the ambush took place, is considered to be a stronghold of the left-wing ultras, as the terrain is difficult and a very few camps of security forces are present.
The Maoists rained bullets from light machine guns (LMGs) and used low-intensity improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to mount the attack that went on till evening, the officials said, adding that the Maoists carried their dead, estimated to be about 10-12, on tractor trolleys.
According to the officials, the intelligence input was that Naxals were undertaking their Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) campaign in the Jagargunda-Jongaguda-Tarrem axis, and hence security forces teams from six camps were deputed to intercept and neutralise them. But unfortunately, the Maoists drew the forces into an ambush from three sides with heavy gunfire soon after, they added.
Even the rescue choppers could not land in the ambush area till around 2 pm on Saturday as a heavy exchange of firing was taking place and the same could land only around 5 pm to pick up the casualties, the officials said.
Out of the total 22 fatalities, the CRPF has lost eight men out of which seven are CoBRA commandos while one personnel is from the Bastariya battalion. A CRPF inspector is still missing, they said.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who cutting short his election campaign schedule, has left Guwahati for New Delhi, where he is expected to hold a high-level security review meeting this evening with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and other senior officials of the MHA, Intelligence Bureau and security forces.
Shah also spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and took stock of the situation and assured him all possible help from the Centre. He is learnt to have also directed Director General (DG) of the CRPF Kuldeep Singh to visit Chhattisgarh to assess the ground situation.
Earlier in the day, Shah said in a tweet that the valour of the security personnel, who laid down their lives fighting the extremists, will never be forgotten. He also asserted that the government will continue its fight against such enemies of peace and progress.
“I bow to the sacrifices of our brave security personnel martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Nation will never forget their valour. My condolences are with their families. We will continue our fight against these enemies of peace & progress. May injured recover soon,” the home minister said.
