Three Naxals killed in face-off with security forces

Three Naxals were today gunned down in exchange of fire with security forces at two different places in the insurgency-hit Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, police said.

While two rebels were killed in Narayanpur district, another one was eliminated in Bijapur district.

In Narayanpur, the skirmish took place while a joint team of security forces was carrying out a counter-insurgency operation in Abujhmad area- a Maoist hotbed, Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI.

A composite squad of District Reserve Group (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) had launched the operation in the interiors of Abujhmad on Sunday from the district headquarters.
 

"Today, they came face to face with a group of military company no. 1 of Maoists in the forests of Kutul village, round 300 kms away from Raipur, following which a gun-battle took place that lasted for about an hour before the rebels escaped," he said.

During the ensuing search at the site, body of two ultras, three weapons and other naxal-related materials were recovered from the spot, the SP said adding that further details are awaited as security forces were yet to reach back to their camp.

In a separate incident, a rebel was killed by security forces in forests near Peddagelur village under Basaguda police station limits of Bijapur.

According to Bijapur Superintendent of Police K L Dhruv, a patrolling party comprising CoBRA's 204th battalion, District Reserve Group (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) was out on a search operation in the interiors of Basaguda, around 450 kms away from the state capital.

When the party reached close to Peddagelur, they came under heavy fire from Maoists that led to gun-battle between both the sides,the SP said.

After the firing stopped, body of a Naxal clad in 'black uniform', a country-made gun, bag and other itemswere recovered while searching the spot, he said.

The identity of all three killed ultras was being ascertained.

Meanwhile, in a separate operation in Bijapur district, three Naxals were arrested from the forest of Cherli Nilavaya under Mirtur police station limits.

Those held were identified as Boda Kadti (30), Kumma Kadti (32) and Baisu Kunjam (28), he said.

The three were allegedly involved in the murder of an assistant constable who was posted in Mirtur, last year, the SP said.