Recovery of 17 bodies ups toll to 22 in Chhattisgarh Naxal encounter
As many as 22 security personnel have lost their lives while several others are still missing, day after an exchange of fire ensued with Naxalites in a forest between Bijapur and Sukma districts of Chhattisgarh. Efforts are on to trace the missing personnel.
As many as 22 security personnel have lost their lives while several others are still missing, day after an exchange of fire ensued with Naxalites in a forest between Bijapur and Sukma districts of Chhattisgarh. Efforts are on to trace the missing personnel. Besides, 31 jawans, including 16 from CRPF, were injured in Saturday’s encounter, news agency ANI reported.
Earlier today, the deaths of five personnel were confirmed and their bodies were recovered, while 18 others were reported missing. The recovery of 17 more dead bodies of the missing jawans upped the toll to 22 on Sunday afternoon, according to the police.
The casualty from the Naxal side was that of a woman whose body was also found from the area.
#WATCH | On ground visuals from the site of Naxal attack at Sukma-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh; 22 security personnel have lost their lives in the attack pic.twitter.com/nulO8I2GKn
— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2021
CRPF Director General Kuldiep Singh reached Chhattisgarh on Sunday morning to look after the operational work and take stock of the situation. The agency further reported that the Naxals have looted over two dozen weapons from security personnel after the encounter.
My thoughts are with the families of those martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. The sacrifices of the brave martyrs will never be forgotten. May the injured recover at the earliest.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 3, 2021
I bow to the sacrifices of our brave security personnel martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Nation will never forget their valour. My condolences are with their families. We will continue our fight against these enemies of peace & progress. May injured recover soon.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 4, 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the valour of the martyred jawans, saying their sacrifices will never be forgotten. President Ram Nath Kovind called it a matter of deep anguish and expressed condolences for the bereaved families.
The gunfight lasted for about three hours. “Twenty two security personnel were killed in the Naxal attack at Sukma-Bijapur,” said Kamalochan Kashyap, SP, Bijapur on Sunday.
Earlier, Pal had said seven injured personnel were airlifted to Raipur while 23 others are undergoing treatment in the Bijapur hospital. “Some jawans are reported to be missing following the encounter and efforts are on to trace their whereabouts,” he added.
Citing “ground report,” Pal claimed that Maoists have suffered a huge loss in the gunfight.
Related news | COVID lockdown in Chattisgarh’s Maoist areas increases load on security forces
This was the second major Naxal incident in the state in the last 10 days. On March 23, five DRG personnel were killed when Naxals blew up a bus carrying the security personnel with an IED in Narayanpur district. On March 21 last year, 17 security personnel, including 12 from DRG, were killed in a Naxal ambush in Minpa area of Sukma district.
(With inputs from agencies)
