Naxalites have launched a major attack in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, in which 14 CRPF soldiers are injured and three soldiers are reported to have been martyred. According to the information, Naxalites have attacked Tekulgudam camp. The soldiers injured in the attack have been referred to Jagdalpur by chopper. The encounter between Naxalites with Cobra battalion and DRG soldiers is still going on. Three paramilitary personnel were killed and 14 others were injured in an encounter with Maoists on the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, a senior police officer said.
Police said the exact number of injured personnel was not yet known and the rescue operation was ongoing. Bastar Police said in a statement that the incident took place near Tekalgudem village when a joint team of security personnel was out on a search operation.
Police gave information
Inspector General of Police, Sundarraj P, said, “On Monday, a new camp of security personnel was set up in Tekalgudem, a Maoist stronghold. After setting up camp, the soldiers of the Special Task Force, District Reserve Guard and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA – a jungle warfare unit of the CRPF) were conducting searches in nearby Jonaguda-Aliguda villages when the Maoists opened fire. And the encounter began.”
He told that the injured soldiers are being taken out of the forest. “We are waiting for more information about the encounter,” the IG said.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the highest number of Maoists arrested in a single month in 2023 was in December when security forces arrested 59 Maoists and before that 15 Maoists were arrested in July. A total of 173 Maoists were arrested between July and December 2023, while 12 were killed in encounters with security forces.