Chhattisgarh: Video shows behind the scenes of Maoist encounter
In a significant operation against Maoists, 29 rebels were neutralized in Chhattisgarh's dense Hapatola forest in Kanker district on Tuesday. A video shot by a security personnel shows a glimpse of what it took to carry out Chhattisgarh's biggest anti-Maoist operation. The operation was executed by a joint force of Border Security Force (BSF) and District Reserve Guard (DRG) of the state police. Among those eliminated was high-ranking Maoist leader Shankar Rao, who carried a bounty of ₹25 lakh.
Minute-long footage shows beginning of encounter
The minute-long video shows security personnel walking through the jungle when suddenly, 20 seconds in, one of them fires two shots from his rifle. Shouting is heard from various sides and the man shooting the video then warns personnel ahead of him to tread carefully and not rush ahead. "Peeche se koi fire nahin karega bhai (no one should fire from behind)," he warns his fellow personnel and the video ends with him repeating the warning.
Operation spearheaded by President's Award recipient
The operation was led by Laxman Kewat, a recipient of the President's Award and known for his expertise in such encounters. Chhattisgarh's CM Vishnu Deo Sai hailed the operation as a monumental victory in the state's ongoing battle against Maoist forces. He stated that the insurgents oppose democracy and it's likely they intended to manipulate the upcoming elections.
Recovery of arms and ammunition post-encounter
Three security personnel sustained injuries during the encounter and were promptly airlifted to Raipur for medical attention. All three have been declared "out of immediate danger." Meanwhile, P Sundarraj, inspector general of police (Bastar), issued a statement post-encounter revealing that an extensive collection of AK-47 rifles and other ammunition were also recovered from the scene.
Operation just days before Lok Sabha elections
The encounter occurred just days before the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in constituencies affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in southern Chhattisgarh. This significant loss for the Maoists suggests a robust improvement in security measures and a corresponding decline in the influence of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist). Ahead of the general elections, security forces have been at a strict vigil against Maoists planning to disrupt polling.
13 Maoists neutralized in combing operation
Earlier this month, security forces in the state's Bijapur district neutralized at least 13 Maoists in one of the biggest security operations in recent years. In the operation which lasted 8 hours, an extensive assortment of rifles, machine guns, and ammunition were also confiscated during the operation. The identities of the deceased Maoists are yet to be established. It was reported that the deceased insurgents likely belonged to People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) company no. 2 of Maoists.
