Police Constable, Naxalite Killed In Encounter In Chhattisgarh’s Kanker, Search Operation Underway

Constable Ramesh Kurethi of the Bastar Fighters, a state police force, was killed in the firefight, the police official stated.

A search operation is currently underway in the surrounding area.

Source : PTI

A police constable and a Naxalite were killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Sunday, according to a senior police officer, news agency PTI reported. The gunfight occurred in a forest near Hidur village, which is within the jurisdiction of Chhotebethiya police station, while a combined security force was conducting an anti-Naxal operation, he stated. According to the official, the operation started after receiving precise information regarding the presence of Naxalites in the Hidur forest.

Constable Ramesh Kurethi of the Bastar Fighters, a state police force, was killed in the firefight, he added.

He stated that a Naxalite's body and an AK-47 rifle were found at the scene.

A search operation is currently underway in the surrounding area.

Speaking with ANI, IG Bastar, P Sundarraj stated: "In the encounter, Bastar Fighters constable Ramesh Kurethi lost his life after being shot. During the search in the encounter, the body of a male Maoist and one AK-47 were also recovered, the search operation is going on around the encounter site. Search is going on in the surrounding area by police force/BSF/DRG." 

#UPDATE | In the encounter, Bastar Fighters constable Ramesh Kurethi lost his life after being shot. During the search in the encounter, the body of a male Maoist and one AK-47 were also recovered, the search operation is going on around the encounter site. Search is going on in…

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) March 3, 2024

This comes only a month after three Central Reserve Police Force personnel, including two from the specialist Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, were killed in an encounter with Maoists along the boundary of Sukma and Bijapur districts in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region. Tekulagudem hamlet, where the engagement occurred, was also the scene of another encounter in 2021, which killed 23 troops.