Anti-Maoist hunt: 12 Maoists killed, three DRF jawans martyred in Bijapur

BIJAPUR: Three jawans were martyred in an encounter between Maoists and the District Reserve Guards (DRG), a specialised unit of the police, in Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, 12 Maoists were neutralised in the encounter that took place in Bijapur district. The DRG jawans, who were on an anti-Maoist hunt in the forest on the border of Bijapur-Dantewada districts, clashed with the Maoists, said Bastar Range Inspector General Sundarraj Pattilingam.

The Inspector General also said that two jawans were injured in the encounter. The operation was carried out by jawans from Dantewada and Bijapur units of the DRG, Special Task Force and the elite unit of the CRPF, Cobra (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action). The bodies of 12 Maoists were recovered. Single Loading Rifles (SLR), INSAS rifles, .303 rifles and other weapons were recovered from the scene.

The martyrs were identified as Head Constable Monu Vadadi, Constable Dukaru Gonde and Jawan Ramesh Sodhi. They are from the DRG Bijapur unit. The injured jawans were given immediate medical assistance, and all are reportedly out of danger. It is learnt that a search is still underway for the Maoists at the spot. With today's encounter, 275 Maoists have been killed in Chhattisgarh alone this year.