Three District Reserve Guard Officials Killed In Encounter With Naxalites In Chhattisgarh

The DRG team was out on a search operation when the face-off took place between the security forces and Naxalites in the Jagargunda forest

Three District Reserve Guard (DRG) officials were killed during an encounter between security forces and Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district on Saturday, reported news agency ANI.  The deceased include ASI Ramuram Nag, Assistant Constable Kunjam Joga and Sainik Vanjam Bheema.

The DRG team was out on a search operation when the face-off took place between the security forces and Naxalites in the Jagargunda forest area around 9 am, according to Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P, reported ANI.

"This morning, a team of DRG was out on a combing operation and when they reached Jagargunda and Kunded, the Naxals opened firing," the IG said. 

The team had launched an operation from Jagargunda police station limits, located over 400 km away from capital Raipur, he said.

Based on input about the presence of naxals in the area, security forces launched an operation and came under ambush.

Major damages have also been inflicted upon the Naxalites in the encounter, said a police source, according to ANI.

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel has expresses deep sorrow over the martyrdom of three jawans. A tweet by the chief minister's office condemned the dastardly act and said that the sacrifice of the soldiers will not go in vain.

Earlier on February 5, Neelkanth Kakem, president of Bharatiya Janata Party's Awapalli mandal in Bijapur, was killed by Naxals. Almost five days later, vice president of BJP in Narayanpur district Sagar Sahu was shot dead by Naxals in Narayanpur district, according to a report by the news agency.