Security forces kill 10 Maoists

At least 10 Maoists were killed on Thursday in a gunbattle with security forces deep inside the dense Abujhmad jungles in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, police said.

The encounter started shortly before noon after security forces were tipped off by Bijapur police that the Maoists were attending a training camp in the jungles under Bhairamgarh police station.

“A total of 10 Maoists have been killed and 12 weapons recovered. The operation was carried out by a team of the District Reserve Guard and the Special Task Force,” Chhattisgarh director general of police DM Awasthi said.

“The forces proceeded from Bhairamgarh police station on Wednesday evening. We received specific input about the presence of the Maoists’ divisional committee members Rajman Mandavi and Sukhlal plus 50-60 cadres in the forests.

Exchange of fire began after about 200 police personnel reached Borga hamlet. The encounter lasted about two-anda-half hours,” he added.

“When the patrolling team was in the forest near Borga village, around 450 km from the state capital Raipur, at around 11 am on Thursday, the Naxals opened fire on them that led to the gun-battle,” he said.

The DGP said the bodies have yet to be identified.

“Reinforcements have been sent since Abujhmad is heavily forested and the terrain is difficult. The police personnel have to cross river Indravati to reach Bhairamgarh,”Awasthi said.

Bijapur superintendent of police Mohit Garg said preliminary reports suggested five women were among the 10 Maoists killed.

“In the afternoon, officials told me that five of the dead Maoists are women. Things will become clear after a medical examination,” he said. On November 11, 2018, two jawans and nine Maoists were killed in an encounter in Sukma district in the state.