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COBRA team snakes into Maoist fortress
Shivanand Shukla | Raipur
Even as a massive mobilisation of special forces is going on for launching a decisive battle against Maoists in Chhattisgarh, a bloody battle between the highly-trained COBRA jawans and the outlaws at Dantewada on Friday left nearly 20 men dead and scores injured. The casualty figure comprises men from both sides.
Reports said the Left-wing guerrillas suffered a serious setback following a raid on their arms factory by a joint operation team of COBRA and police. Despite the element of surprise, the Maoists shot back and killed an assistant commandant of the elite force. At least six COBRA personnel went missing and an equal number was seriously injured. The number of Maoists killed in the fierce encounter was estimated at over a dozen.
“Nine bodies of Maoists have already been recovered while assistant commandant Manoranjan Singh died in the encounter,” said DGP Vishwaranjan. Confirming that six COBRA personnel were missing, the DGP said more Maoists might have been killed and a search was on to recover their bodies.
The police officials based in Bastar also said the casualty figure might go up as the security teams were yet to return and gun battle was continuing at several places.
The encounter took place after the security forces raided a rebels’ arms factory in the jungles of Singamadagu, 500 km from State capital Raipur.
The gun battle between Maoists and security personnel continued late in the evening and a helicopter was being used to evacuate the injured and the dead, said police sources.
Acting on a tip-off, several teams — comprising about 200 men led by the CRPF, COBRA commandants and Dantewada SP — moved from different sides towards the arms factory, sources said. While one of the teams was returning after destroying the arms factory the Maoists opened fire at them at Palechelma.
The assistant commandant was killed in the incident and the securitymen gunned down seven Maoists in the encounter, sources said. Two more Naxalites were shot in encounters elsewhere in the same region.
The security forcers recovered several weapons, including SLRs and grenades, said IGP RK Vij.
The area is located in deep forests and it was very difficult for the authorities to establish contact with the forces as it could only be done through satellite phones. “Only the team can get in touch with us, not vice versa,” a senior officer pointed out by way of explaining difficulties in getting details.
Significantly, the incident occurred when hectic preparations are on to launch a massive strike against the rebels in Chhattisgarh. The operation will pool together forces from the BSF, ITBP, CRPF, CAF and district police with the help of special police officers, who have been drafted in from the local youth. Already, Air Force officers have visited Raipur in connection with the proposed offensive against the Maoists.
Sources said IAF choppers and other aircraft may be used during the operation for transportation and evacuation purposes. “They will not be used at all for combat,” clarified a top source.
More than 20 battalions of Central and State forces are currently posted in the insurgency-hit Bastar region and nine more BSF and ITBP battalions are likely to join them in the operation.
sir just now news flashing that 9 maoist dead body recovered and it believed 30 maoist got killed. Our cobra team said they want to kill them all. Fighting going on. i love the video that i saw in which our cobra commandos were smiling and heading towards hot spot where battle been faught. Our commandos all over the place. Area bit bigger but our commandos killing maoist rapidly. i think if fight goes on till 3 to 6 days then most maoist will die because they are running out of annimution fast. No food, no annimution result death. Atlast india giving strong message that democrasy doesn't mean maoist are safe.