CRPF officer killed in gunfight with Maoists

assistant subinspector (ASI) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed by Maoists in an encounter on Friday night in south Sukma.

According to the police, the skirmish took place in a jungle under Kishtaram police station limits when troops were conducting a combing operation.

“The deceased, ASI Anil Kumar Maurya of CRPF’s 212 battalion deployed in South Sukma, died in the encounter which took place on Friday evening. The CRPF jawans were in a combing operation when the encounter took place deep in the jungles,” said Bastar Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Sunderaj P said.

Patrolling has been intensified in the area following the attack, the police officer said.

Maurya hailed from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

On March 13, nine COBRA troopers on board a mine-protected

BASTAR/RAIPUR:An We are trying our best to reduce humanelephant conflict. If people adopt precautionary steps, deaths can be avoided.

RINKU KUMARI, Dhenkanal divisional forest officer

vehicle (MPV) were killed when suspected Maoist rebels detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the same area under Kishtram police station limits.

South Sukma is Maoist hotbed in Bastar region where Maoist’s Battalion number 1 operates which is headed by Maoist leader Mandvi Hidma.