Chhattisgarh: Eight Naxals killed in encounter with security forces
Security forces today killed at least eight Naxals, including four women, in a fierce encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, a senior police official said. The gunbattle took place around 6 am in a forest area near Timinar and Pusnar villages along the boundary of Bijapur and Dantewada districts, Deputy Inspector General of Police (anti-Naxal operations) Sundarraj P said.
Operation was launched based on a tip-off
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the District Reserve Guard and the Special Task Force launched the operation from Dantewada yesterday in the forest area. While the security men were cordoning off the forest areas in Timinar and Pusnar villages in Bijapur, around 450km from Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur, an exchange of fire broke out between the two sides today, Sundarraj said.
Encounter lasted for two hours
The gunbattle lasted for about 2 hours, following which Naxals fled into the core forest area, the DIG said. "After guns fell silent, bodies of seven Naxals, including three women, were initially recovered from the spot," he said. Later, one more body of a woman Naxal was found, he said. More details would be known when security forces return to their camp, he added.
Cache of weapons recovered
Two Insas rifles, two .303 rifles, a 12 bore gun, and a few muzzle-loading guns were also recovered, the DIG said.
