Chhattisgarh: 5 Naxals Gunned Down in Encounter in Bastar, Huge Cache of Arms, Ammunition Recovered

Raipur: At least five Maoists were on Tuesday gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Kohakmat under Narayanpur district in Bastar in Chhattisgarh, police said.

The encounter between Maoists and security forces in the area still continued till the last reports came.

“Security forces have inflicted heavy casualties among the Maoists. As per the preliminary information available till now, at least five Naxals were killed and many more wounded in the encounter that took place in the Madha area of Kohakmat”, a senior police officer in Bastar said.

The encounter was still in progress, the police officer said.

However, all the jawans involved in the anti-Naxal operation were safe, the police officer said.

According to him, a huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered in the Maoist camp busted by security forces.

Details of the encounter could be ascertained after security personnel involved in the anti-Naxal operation returned to their camps, the police officer said.

This was the fourth major counterinsurgency operation in Abujhmad area of Chhattisgarh in the last three months.

Abujhmad, loosely translated as incomprehensible, is a 4,000 sq km densely forested area extending from Bastar in Chhattisgarh to Gadchiroli in Maharashtra.

Senior leaders of outlawed CPI (Maoist) including some Central Committee (CC) members are said to have found Abujhmad a safe haven.

Security forces have now focused on Abujhmad to free the area of Maoist influence.

EOM