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22 jawans killed in Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh, worst attack since 2017

Twenty-two jawans were killed and 31 sustained injuries in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. Security forces had launched an operation along the Sukma-Bijapur border, where an intense face-off resulted in the deaths of the jawans. On April 2, more than 2,000 personnel from at least five camps in Sukma and Bijapur had […]

Twenty-two jawans were killed and 31 sustained injuries in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. Security forces had launched an operation along the Sukma-Bijapur border, where an intense face-off resulted in the deaths of the jawans.

On April 2, more than 2,000 personnel from at least five camps in Sukma and Bijapur had gone into the forest around Tarrem in Bijapur district, 60 km from the district headquarters.

“We can confirm that 22 of Indian force members have been killed by Maoist fighters,” Reuters quoted a senior government official in Raipur, the capital of mineral-rich Chhattisgarh, as saying.

Om Prakash Pal, a senior police official in Raipur, said combing operations to trace one missing security force member were being conducted.

The death toll was the heaviest for Indian security forces battling the far-left guerrillas since 2017.

Personnel belonging to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF) were involved in the operation launched from five places—Tarrem, Usoor and Pamed (in Bijapur), and Minpa and Narsapuram (in Sukma).

The operation was mounted against Battalion No. 1 Area Commander Hidma, one of the most dreaded and wanted Maoists. He has been responsible, the police said, for several attacks against security forces. Sources believe Hidma was “actively present” in the area and his team was responsible for the attack Saturday.

Officials said security personnel were trapped in an ambush while returning from the operation. Saturday’s encounter comes 10 days after five DRG personnel were killed when Maoists blew up their bus with an IED in Narayanpur district.

Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and took stock of the situation. He also directed Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Kuldeep Singh to visit Chhattisgarh to assess the situation.

Earlier, Shah said in a tweet that the valour of the security personnel who laid down their lives fighting the extremists will never be forgotten. He also said the government will continue its fight against such enemies of peace and progress. “I bow to the sacrifices of our brave security personnel martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Nation will never forget their valour. My condolences are with their families. We will continue our fight against these enemies of peace & progress. May injured recover soon,” he said in a tweet.

“The killing of the security personnel while battling Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh is a matter of deep anguish. My condolences to the bereaved families. The nation shares their pain and will never forget this sacrifice,” President Kovind tweeted. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded “decisive action to locate & rescue the missing Jawans.”

WITH AGENCY INPUTS

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