According to a top police official, at least 14 Maoists, including six women, have been slain in the current clash with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district. The bodies of every Maoist who died have been found.
According to a briefing given by Raipur Inspector General of Police (IGP) Amresh Kumar Mishra on Tuesday, the clash between Maoists and security forces began on the evening of January 19 and is still going on. It took place in the dense forests of Bhalu-Diggi, which are located at Kulhari Ghat in the Gariaband district.
“Information was received about the presence of Maoists in the area, following which security personnel were sent to the spot. As many as 14 Maoists have been killed in the last two days. Apart from this, a huge quantity of weapons has also been recovered from the spot during the search operation, including INSAS rifle, SLR, revolver, and cartridges. Other materials have also been recovered,” the Raipur IGP said, as quoted by news agency.
Following certain intelligence inputs, the continuing operation was initiated Monday night. Security personnel from Chhattisgarh and Odisha, including the 207th battalion of the CRPF’s CoBRA unit, the 65 and 211 Battalions of the CRPF, the Odisha Police’s Operation Group E30, and SOG Nuapada, worked together to accomplish the mission. A search operation is underway in the deep jungles of Bhalu-Diggi, IGP Mishra added. On Tuesday evening, security forces were also stationed nearby.
There is sporadic gunfire between the Maoists and security forces during the conflict. According to the news outlet, which cited official sources, there were over fifty Maoists in the area, and the search is being conducted against them. Security personnel have begun scouring the entire woodland.
Vishnu Deo Sai, the chief minister of Chhattisgarh, complimented and praised the security forces for their successful neutralization of the Maoists. “I’m very proud of our security forces,” he remarked. Their bravery is quite admirable. This action demonstrates our ongoing success in opposing the Maoists.
An confrontation with the security forces in the Chhattisgarh district of Bijapur earlier on January 16 resulted in the deaths of 17 Maoists and the recovery of a sizable arsenal of weapons. In their continuous attempts to stop Maoist activity in the area, security services have achieved a major victory with the joint operation.
