C'garh: CRPF sub-inspector killed in Maoist ambush in Bastar

 Raipur: A Central Reserve police Force (CRPF) sub-inspector (SI) was on Sunday killed in an encounter with Maoists in Sukma district under Bastar in Chhattisgarh.

A constable of the Central paramilitary force was injured in the incident, police said.

The incident took place when a search party comprising personnel of CRPF’s 165th battalion was conducting counterinsurgency operation in Ursangal area under Jagargunda police station limits, a spokesman of Bastar police said.

A CRPF team from Bedre camp was mobilised to conduct anti-Naxal operations in the area.

According to the police, the search party came under attack by Maoists near Ursangal village, leading to an encounter between them that lasted nearly half-a-hour.

CRPF SI Sudhakar Reddy was killed and constable Ramu was injured in the incident, police said.

The injured was taken to the CRPF camp in Bedre where he was given treatment.

He will be airlifted to Raipur for better medical treatment, police said.

The slain SI is a native of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh.

According to the police, four suspects were arrested near the encounter site.

A combing operation was launched in the area.

Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the incident and paid tribute to the slain sub-inspector.

He convened an emergency meeting of high level officials to take stock of the situation, official sources said.

Mr Sai directed the director general of police (DGP) to intensify anti-Naxal operations in the state.

“Maoists indulge in violence out of frustration. We will win the battle against Maoism with the cooperation of the people and the Centre and through developmental works”, he said.

This was the fourth attack on security forces by Maoists in Bastar in the last four days and the third killing of a cop by the ultras during the period.

A jawan of Border Security Force (BSF) was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion triggered by Maoists in Kanker district under Bastar on December 14.

On December 13, a jawan of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) was killed in a similar incident in Narayanpur district under Bastar.