Chhattisgarh Naxal Encounter: The death toll of Maoists killed in an eight-hour security encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur has risen to 13, with three more bodies being discovered on Wednesday morning, sources told ABP News. The encounter began around 6 AM on Tuesday when a joint team of security personnel was conducting an anti-Naxal operation in a forest in Lenda village.
It is being touted as one of the most important security operations in recent years.
A total of thirteen bodies have been recovered as of Wednesday morning.
It is to be noted that the Tuesday operation, which included members of the District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), was carried out after security officials received information about the presence of a senior Maoist named Papa Rao in the area.
3 Women Among 13 Bodies Recovered: IG Bastar Range
The IG Bastar Range, P Sundarraj told ANI that among the thirteen bodies, three are women.
Naxal Attacks Increased In BJP's Regime: Congress
The state Congress president said that the grand old party will oppose the encounter if tribal communities will be targeted. "
"The naxal attacks in Bastar have increased under the governance of BJP. Bastar is at unrest again. The Congress party will oppose if tribal communities will be targeted," Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij told ANI.
Bijapur district is part of the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency and will vote in the first phase of the national elections on April 19.
The latest security encounter occurred about a week after six Maoists were killed in an encounter on March 27 in Bijapur's Basaguda district.
So far this year, at least 43 Maoists have been killed in Bastar in separate security incidents.
(With Inputs From Jai Prakash Tripathi)