Chhattisgarh: Two more Maoist bodies recovered from Gariaband encounter site, toll touches 16

RAIPUR: Two more bodies of Naxalites were recovered from the site of encounter in Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh, a day after security forces gunned down 12 Maoists in the same anti-Naxalite operation. In the 72-hour long anti-Naxalite operation, the security forces have killed total 16 Maoists in Gariaband district, falling under Raipur range.

Speaking to TOI, Raipur range inspector general of police Amresh Mishra said, “The operation that began on the night of January 19 has come to an end on Wednesday morning and security forces recovered two more bodies of Naxalites in the forest. Two weapons including AK-47 and a country-made rifle were also seized from the spot. While the search operation is still underway, the identification of the killed Naxalites will be revealed only after proper verification.”

He added that 17 automatic weapons have been recovered in past two days from the encounter site.

Maoists had planted more than two dozen IEDs in the region which could have severely injured the local villagers, but the security forces have detected and defused them, IG said in a statement.

There was a specific input about presence of senior Naxalites from Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada division and Indagaon area committee, following which, a joint force of E-30, STF, CoBRA, CRPF and SOG of Odisha, had launched an anti-Naxalite operation in Kulharighat’s Bhaloodiggi area, which is located about ten kms from borders of Odisha.

The Maoists opened fire upon security forces and faced retaliation, a police statement said.

Police said that on Tuesday, 14 Naxalites, including a top Maoist commander of central committee, carrying a cash reward of Rs 1 crore on his head, were killed in a joint operation.

Two security personnel - one belonging to CoBRA and another from the SOG of Odisha police, were injured in the operation.

Two women Naxalites were killed on Monday in the same operation on Monday and in a fresh exchange of fire, 12 more Naxalites were gunned down.

The bodies of 14 dead Naxalites have been brought to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur for the post-mortem.

Till now, 42 Naxalites have been killed in separate gunfights in Chhattisgarh this year.