8 Naxals killed in Chhatisgarh during anti-terror encounter
Eight Naxals and one security force jawan (soldier) have been killed in Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmarh after a fierce gun battle on Saturday, June 15. For the past few days, Naxalite’s have stepped up attacks in the Maad and Narayanpur districts of Chhattisgarh that have resulted in greater mobilization of security forces in the area.
Bastar’s Inspector General (IG), Sundarraj P said in a statement to the Economic Times, “In an encounter between security personnel and Naxalites, eight bodies of Naxalites have been recovered. Three of our security personnel got injured, and one of them lost his life. The other two have been airlifted to Raipur and are under treatment. Both of them are out of danger.”
He added that the martyred soldier belonged to STF (Special Task Force) and was part of a joint anti-Maoist task force of Narayanpur-Kondagaon-Kanker-Dantewada DRG (District Reserve Guards), STF (Special Task Force), and ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) 53rd Battalion forces.
Security officials also recovered a large quantity of weapons, including INSAS rifles,.303 rifles, BGL launchers, and several short-wave communication equipment from the site of the encounter.
The encounter on Saturday lasted for hours before resulting in the deaths of eight Naxals, while three members of the security forces were critically injured. The injured jawans were immediately airlifted to Raipur for treatment, but sadly, one of the injured jawans lost his life enroute to the hospital. The martyred jawan has been identified as STF constable Nitish Ekka.
🚨#UPDATE : #Naxal के साथ मुठभेड़ में दो घायल जवानों को #Chhattisgarh के रायपुर के रामकृष्ण अस्पताल लाया गया – रघुनाथ जल्द उन्हें स्वस्थ करें I
▶️#Modi3 और छत्तीसगढ़ की डबल इंजन की सरकार सत्ता में आते ही वामपंथी नक्सलवाद पर जोरदार प्रहार किया
▶️#BJP सरकार बनते ही बीते 4-5… https://t.co/JESPbN6Gnb pic.twitter.com/YYlk1MSIs9
— 𝐑𝐚𝐡𝐮𝐥 𝐊𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐫 (@Rahulk123d) June 15, 2024
Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister, Vishnu Deo Sai, had conveyed his condolences for the martyred soldier and wished the other injured jawan’s speedy recovery in a post on X and said, “Our government is fully prepared to eliminate them, and we will not sit quiet until the goal is achieved.”
The Naxalite Insurgency has plagued India since 1967
Starting in 1967, the Naxalite insurgency has plagued India for several decades. The term “Naxal” finds its origin in the 1967 Naxalbari uprising led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal, and Jangal Santhal that led to the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist).
Since then, the movement has split into several splinter cells, with several groups operating in the forest belt of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, and some remote regions in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Over the years, Naxal-controlled “Red Corridor’s” (regions affected by Naxalite-Maoist insurgency) have shrunk under relentless search and cordon operations by security forces. Joint operations between multi-state armed police, ITBP, BSF, STF, and other armed forces of India have reduced active Naxal threats within the country, although nearly 23.81% of India’s forest covers still remain under the control of Naxalites.
This is video of Naxal attack on a Jawans’ camp in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur.
Our Soldiers thwarted the attack and engaged in an exchange of fire with the Naxals. 7 Naxals killed in Narayanpur.
Salute to our Jawans who are fighting against Naxals/Maoists (Left Wing Extremism). pic.twitter.com/49I982g2ZZ
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) June 8, 2024
Counter-insurgency initiatives like “Operation Steeplechase (1971)” and “Operation Green Hunt (2009)” have greatly impacted the ability of Naxal groups to mount attacks on civilian populations and security forces.
With frequent losses of weapons and ammunition to food supplies and cadres since the beginning of “Operation Green Hunt” in 2009, several Maoist-infested states like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have been brought under control by counter-insurgency operatives in India.
As of 2024, 9,714 Maoist and Naxal cadres have surrendered to security forces, while 10,181 cadres have been arrested so far. Another 2,274 Naxal militants have been killed in counter-insurgency encounters till date.
Anti-Naxalite operations to ramp up in Chhattisgarh
The eight Naxals killed by security forces on Saturday belonged to the PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army), a high-ranking police official said on condition of anonymity to PTI.
The current anti-Naxal operation being carried out in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district began on June 12 and has resulted in the deaths of 10 Naxals till date in areas such as Farasbeda, Kutul, and Kodtameta, the officer added.
Previously, on April 16, 29 Naxals were killed by security forces along the Kanker-Narayanpur border of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar, making it the “biggest encounter ever” in Chhattisgarh.
