At least 15 Maoists were killed and 25 grievously injured in an encounter with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) last week in Sukma district of South Chhattisgarh, the CRPF Inspector General (IG) H.S. Sidhu claimed on Thursday.
Sixty three Naxals, most of them lower-rung cadres, surrendered in Narayanpur district in Bastar region , taking the total number of rebels laying down their arms to over 400 in the insurgency-hit state so far this year. "This is one of biggest achievements for police who have been fighting the menace of Left Wing extremism in Bastar for the past three decades, as altogether 63 members, including three women, of the banned outfit surrendered before police today," Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, SRP Kalluri told PTI. "All of them had reached Benoor police station recently and expressed their wish to turn themselves in before police and join the mainstream," he said. Of the 63 surrendered, 33 were involved in several incidents of crime, including loot, arson, attacks on the police and others, whereas no criminal cases were registered against 30 others, the IG said. According to the official, they were working for different sub-groups and frontal outfits of outlawed CPI (Maoist), including Jantana Sarkar (people's government), Janmilitia, Sangham member, Chetna Natya Manch (CNM)-cultural wing, Dandakarnya Adivasi Kisan Sangthan, among others.
An encounter had taken place near Chintafua and Kasalpara area in Sukma district on November 21 between the teams of the CRPF, COBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) and the Maoists.
The Maoists had even opened fire on a Mi-17 helicopter which was flown in to rescue the injured COBRA men.
"At least 15 Maoists were killed in the encounter near Kasalapara village according some technical and intelligence inputs we received after the encounter. Around 25 to 30 of them were grievously injured in the same encounter," Sidhu said.
The IG also informed that six COBRA jawans were injured in the same encounter and are stable now.
According to a source, the CRPF could conclude on the number of deaths from the information they received regarding Maoist activities in the area to provide medical treatment to the injured ultras.
"The injured Maoists were taken to different locations for treatment and some doctors were also deputed to treat the injured ultras," revealed the source requesting anonymity.
