NAGPUR: The Chhattisgarh police on Monday claimed to have killed one insurgent during an exchange of fire in Bijapur district in Bastar region.
“A joint party of DRG (District Reserve Guard), CRPF’s CoBRA and policemen from Gangaloor police station had gone for an anti-Naxal operation in Pedia area of Bijapur under the command of Bijapur additional Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg three days ago. There was local intelligence about Naxal training camp in that area. The Maoists attacked the joint team on Sunday evening near Pedia village and the joint team retaliated. The Maoists fled away after heavy firing for about 30 minutes,” said a statement issued by the Anti-Naxal Operations unit of Chhattisgarh police.
The ANO statement added that a body of “one uniformed male Maoist” was recovered on Monday after a post-encounter search of the area.
“Some more Maoists were reportedly injured in the exchange of fire. A 12 bore rifle, 10 cells, and other Maoist material were also recovered from the spot of the encounter,” the statement said.
The deceased was identified as Sukhram Lekam alias Sukku.
“He was Janatana Sarkar president of Maoists in Pedia. This is the first time the security forces have successfully recovered a Maoist’s body from Pedia area which has been a core hideout area of Maoist commanders like Ganesh Uike,” the statement added.
