RAIPUR: An encounter broke out between security forces and Maoists of Gangaloor area committee on Monday evening in the forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. This is the fifth gunfight in less than a week and comes two days after three Maoists were shot dead in Dantewada. There were no casualties yet even as the operation continued till the time of going to press on Tuesday.
The security forces have been on the offensive after being hit by a string of IED blasts and ambushes. On Tuesday, police detected two pressure IEDs planted on a road often taken by security personnel to march into the forests for operations. Police have found and defused at least 180 such IEDs planted by Maoists this year in Bijapur alone.
Bastar Range IG P Sundarraj said cops received specific inputs about presence of 20-25 armed Maoists in the Palnar-Savnar forest. A joint team of CoBRA commandos from 202 Battalion, CRPF’s 85th battalion, District Reserve Guards and Bastar Fighters launched an operation on Monday.
Around 8pm Monday, in the forests of Savnar, Maoists opened indiscriminate fire upon security personnel and an encounter broke out. After a brief gunfight, the Maoists retreated into the forests and the forces went in pursuit.
On Tuesday, two IEDs weighing 5kg each were detected on the Palnar-Cherpal village road when a DRG and bomb disposal squad were out on a search operation. Maoists plant these IEDs to target security personnel, but villagers often fall victim too. This month, there were a string of IED blasts, prompting the police to step up operations.
Officials said that security forces are rounding up Maoists and penetrating their core zones at a fast pace. The establishment of new police camps in the interior regions is also being sped up.
Meanwhile, five Maoist cadres — allegedly involved in 32 incidents of attacks on security forces, arson and planting IEDs — have surrendered before Bijapur Police citing prejudice and negligence in the insurgent ranks. They belong to Gangaloor and Bhairamgarh area committees & will be rehabilitated under the state’s surrender policy.
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