Chhattisgarh: Five Maoists killed, two Jawans injured in Narayanpur encounter

Maoist stronghold targeted; Soldiers engaged in intense gunfight

In a major anti-Maoist operation, security forces killed at least five Maoists during a fierce gunbattle in the dense forests of the Abujhmad region in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district on Saturday. Two jawans were also injured in the encounter, which lasted for nearly five hours.

The operation began early in the morning after intelligence reports indicated Maoist activity in the area. A joint team of security personnel, including paramilitary forces and local police, launched a search operation at around 6 a.m. As the team entered the forested area, they came under heavy fire from Maoist insurgents, triggering an intense gunfight that continued until around 11 a.m.

A jawan involved in the operation stated that an estimated 20 Maoists were present at the site, with at least five killed during the clash. “We were part of a team of 1,439 personnel deployed for the operation. The encounter lasted several hours, and although many Maoists were injured, we were unable to capture all of them,” the jawan said, adding that the search operation was ongoing to apprehend the remaining insurgents.

During the firefight, two security personnel were injured. Khileshwar Gawade, one of the injured jawans, sustained bullet wounds to his head and right hand, while Hiraman Yadav was shot in the thigh. Both were airlifted to Raipur for medical treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.

Security forces recovered the bodies of five Maoists from the site, along with weapons, and the process of identifying the deceased is currently underway. Authorities believe that the Maoists had used the dense forest cover to ambush the security team.

The Abujhmad region, which borders Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, has long been a hotspot for Maoist activity, with the insurgents using the rugged terrain to evade security forces. However, recent operations have dealt significant blows to the insurgents’ ranks. Last month, in one of the largest successes in recent history, security forces neutralized 31 Maoists in a similar operation in the region.

Inspector General of Police for the Bastar Range, Sundarraj P., speaking on the rising success of such operations, noted that 192 Maoists have been killed this year alone. “The pressure from sustained security operations is gradually weakening the Maoists’ influence in the region,” he said, highlighting the ongoing efforts to restore peace and security in the troubled area.

Officials have confirmed that the operation will continue until all Maoist elements in the region are neutralized, with reinforcements deployed to ensure the safety of the personnel involved.

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