Security Forces Gun Down 2 Naxalites In Encounter In Chhattisgarh's Sukma

The encounter broke out when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation. A search operation was still underway in the area.

Two Naxalites were killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Sukma on Saturday.

Source : PTI

An encounter broke out between the security forces and naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Saturday. Two maoists were gunned down by the security personnel during the gunfight.

The gunfight took place on Saturday morning in a forest are which comes under the Kistaram police station area. The encounter broke out when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan told news agency PTI.

The anti-Naxalite operation was launched Friday based on inputs regarding the presence of Moaists in the forest area. SP Chavan said that personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action — an elite unit of the CRPF) were also involved in the operation.

The bodies of both the neutralised Naxalites have been recovered from the encounter site. A search operation was still underway in the area, the official said.

With the Saturday encounter, security forces have gunned down 83 Naxalites in separate skirmishes in Chhattisgarh so far since the year began. Out of them, 67 were killed in the Bastar division which includes seven districts, including Sukma.

The encounter took place a day after seven Naxalites carrying a cumulative reward of Rs 32 lakh on their hands surrendered before the police in the Sukma district on February 28.

"Hemla Hidma alias Waga, his wife Ravva Muke alias Bhime, Barse Sona, Uika Lalu, woman ultra Madvi Kosi, Madkam Hunga and Muchaki Budhra laid down arms," a police official told news agency PTI.

"Lalu, Kosi Hunga and Budhra had total bounty of Rs 8 lakh. Lalu was Platoon Number 10 member, Kosi was Pamed Area Committee Agriculture wing member, Hunga was Morpalli RPC CNM head and Budhra was Puvarti RPC militia commander," he informed.

These seven Naxalites will now be given benefits as per the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the government.