Chhattisgarh Encounter: 5 army personnel killed, 15 missing

NEW DELHI: Five security personnel were killed and several others were injured on Saturday in an encounter with Maoists in a forest along the border between Bijapur and Sukma districts in Chhattisgarh, police officials said, adding at least 15 jawans are missing and efforts are on to trace them, ANI reported.

“At least 15 jawans missing after yesterday’s Sukma encounter. A reinforcement party rushed to the spot. Bodies of 2 out of 5 jawans who died in encounter recovered,” Chhattisgarh Police Sources was quoted by ANI as saying.

So far, 30 security personnel have sustained injuries, state’s Deputy Inspector General (anti-Naxal operations) OP Pal said. “Among the martyred personnel, one belonged to the CoBRA unit and two each are from the DRG and the ‘Bastariya’ battalion of the CRPF,” the DIG said.

He said seven injured personnel were airlifted to Raipur and admitted to hospitals there while 23 others are undergoing treatment in the Bijapur district hospital.

Condoling the death of the security personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said their sacrifices will never be forgotten.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has condemned the incident and said the martyrdom of the jawans will not go in vain, and the anti-Naxal operation will be intensified, an official statement said.

“Our jawans have displayed exemplary courage by inflicting massive damage on Naxals (in this incident). Operation against Naxals will be intensified,” the CM said.

Expressing his condolences, Baghel directed officials to ensure the best treatment to the injured jawans, the release said.

Union home minister Amit Shah also condoled the death of the security personnel saying, “I bow to 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 and progress.”

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. (Agencies)