New Delhi: At least three CRPF personnel were killed and 14 others sustained injuries during a gun battle with the Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Tuesday afternoon, news agency PTI reported.
According to PTI, two of the commandos killed were part of the elite jungle warfare unit CoBRA.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said that the incident occurred near the Tekalgudem village, located along the border of the Bijapur and Sukma districts, when a joint team of security personnel was out on a search operation, PTI reported.
Giving details on the exchange of fire with Naxals, IG Bastar said, "Our jawans gave a befitting reply in the exchange of fire, we have received visuals regarding the neutralising of at least six Naxals cadres. Three of our jawans laid down their lives. The injured jawans have been evacuated to Raipur Hospital. All of them are stable and out of danger."
Reacting to the incident, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, "Our jawans gave a befitting reply in the exchange of fire...Since the BJP has formed the government in Chhattisgarh, we are giving the Naxals a befitting reply...Three jawans laid down their lives...The double-engine government will bring an end to Naxals in the coming days."
According to PTI, a team from the 201 battalion of the CoBRA and 150 battalion of the CRPF were working in the area to establish a Forward Operating Base (FOB) when the exchange of fire began around 1 pm.
A FOB, notably, is a remote camp meant to facilitate security forces operating in core Naxal areas.
The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of the CRPF is a jungle warfare unit, reported PTI.