Security forces killed three Naxalites in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur during an anti-Naxal operation in the Indravati National Park on Sunday. The search operation is continuing and forces have recovered arms and ammunition from the hideouts of Naxalites, police said.
Chhattisgarh police said the militants were killed in an encounter with security personnel in a forest area within the Indravati National Park on Sunday. Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police, Bastar range said the gunfight between Naxals and security forces broke out in the morning when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation.
Security personnel from District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and District Force were involved in the operation on Sunday. Forces have recovered the bodies of Naxalites and seized their arms.
“Bodies of three Naxalites clad in 'uniform' along with firearms, including the automatic ones, and explosives were recovered from the site, Sundarraj said. Search operations are continuing in the area.
Security forces have intensified anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh after nine jawans were killed in attack by militants recently. As many as eight DRG jawans and a driver got killed after Naxalites blew up their vehicle using an IED in Bijapur. The security personnel were returning after conducting a search operation in the region. On Saturday, a Central Reserve Police Force jawan suffered injuries when an IED planted by Naxals went off in the Mahadeo Ghat area in Bijapur. The jawan inadvertently stepped on the IED while patrolling, police said.
12 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters in the state so far this year. Last year, 219 Naxalites were neutralised by security forces in separate encounters in the state.
