Encounter with Naxals in Dantewada over, no casualties
Raipur: A fierce encounter took place on Wednesday between a police party of 75 personnel and Maoists near Kirandul in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.
Due to heavy rains in the area, the authorities could not contact the police party, resulting in fears of casualties. However, as per latest information, the police party is safe and there were no casualties.
"The force is safe and on its way back," said IG (Bastar) T J Longkumer. He confirmed there have been no police casualties in the encounter with Maoists.
He said it was not clear if any Maoists had been killed. "We have searched the area, we have not found any casualties".
"The encounter began around 11 am and lasted till 1pm with on and off firing," he said.
Earlier reports said that about 70 police personnel were reported missing in Chhattisgarh forests amid a major gunfight between heavily-armed Maoists and police in Dantewada area.
A strong contingent of District Force (DF) and Koya Commandos, comprising Special Police Officers (SPOs) had gone into the forests around 11 am after police were tipped-off about the presence of a unit headed by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) commander Ganesh Uike in Gumiapal forests, said Mishra.
The encounter took place in the forests of Goomiapal, near Kirandul, 40 kilometres from Dantewada, Mishra added.
Additional CRPF reinforcements were also rushed to the encounter site.
On April 6, 75 CRPF personnel and a state policeman were killed in Dantewada after over 100 Naxals ambushed the patrol party and looted weapons.
In another incident on June 29, a large number of heavily-armed Maoists, perched on a hilltop, had opened fire with automatic weapons on a 63-member security contingent which was returning on foot from road opening duty, killing 26 CRPF personnel in Narayanpur district. The dead included a CRPF Assistant Commandant Jatin Gulati.
Read more: Encounter with Naxals in Dantewada over, no casualties - India - The Times of India
Encounter with Naxals in Dantewada over, no casualties - India - The Times of India