2 Naxals gunned down in Sukma, another two held in Dantewada

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 24

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the state police, in a joint operation, neutralised two Naxals in an encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma. They also arrested two left-wing extremists in Dantewada while ‘planning’ to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Officials in the security forces said after the encounter in forest areas of Gompad and Kanhaiguda in Sukma district, bodies of two Naxals were recovered with arms/ammunition/explosives and their camping material.

The gunfight took place at around 8 am in a forest area, which is over 450 km from the state capital Raipur, when a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Naxal operation, they said.

Personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of Chhattisgarh Police, the CRPF and its elite unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were involved in the operation, that was launched based on the inputs about the movement of Naxals inside the forest. Blood stains found at the site indicated that many other Naxals were either injured or killed in the face-off, but the rebels managed to take them inside the forest, the officials said.

The identity of the killed ultras was yet to be ascertained, but prima facie, one of them seemed to be Kawasi Hunga, who was active as the Konta area LOS (local organisation squad) commander of Maoists, the officials said.

Meanwhile, two Naxals, each carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head, were arrested when they were allegedly planning to plant IEDs to target security forces in Dantewada district of the state, the officials said.

“Two tiffin bombs were recovered from the possession of the arrested ultras. A patrolling team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and local police nabbed Pandu alias Mangu Madvi (23) and Hurra alias Korma Sodi (22) on Monday near Hiroli village under Kirandul police station area,” Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava is reported to have said.

Arms, explosives seized

• The gunfight took place around 8 am in a forest area, which is over 450 km from the state capital Raipur, when a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Naxal operation, they said.
• Officials said after the encounter in forest areas of Gompad and Kanhaiguda in Sukma district, bodies of two Naxals were recovered with arms, ammunition, explosives and camping material.