At least 26 Naxalites killed in a deadly encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh

More than 26 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in the forests along the border of Narayanpur-Bijapur districts in Chhattisgarh, officials said on Wednesday. A police aide was also killed and a police jawan was injured in the gunfight, they said.

“More than 26 Naxalites, some of them probably top cadres, were killed. One supporter of the police was killed and a police jawan was injured in the action,” said Sharma, who holds the home portfolio. Combing operations are still underway, said deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma.

The encounter took place in dense forests between Abhujmad and Indravati national park area.

Naxalites opened fire when teams of District Reserve Guards of police from four districts were out on an operation in Abhujmad area following intelligence inputs about the presence of senior cadres of the Mad division of Maoists, police said.

Meanwhile, Police in eastern Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district on Tuesday arrested three women Naxalites and detained two minors who collectively carried a reward of ₹36 lakh on their heads, officials said. The district police had received intelligence about 50 to 60 Naxalites gathering in Binagunda Mauza in Bhamragadh area with a plan to attack police personnel, said a release issued by Superintendent of Police Neelotpal.

Seven squads of C-60 commandos — a special anti-Naxalite unit of the district police — and a squad of CRPF battalion no 37 were sent to the area on Sunday. The C-60 commandos cordoned off Binagunda village on Monday and detained five Naxalites with weapons, it said. Of the three arrested women, Ungi Hoyam (27), a divisional committee member in `platoon 32′ of the Maoists, was carrying a reward of ₹16 lakh on her head. Pallavi Midayam (19), working as `platoon party committee member’ was carrying a reward ₹8 lakh on her head, while Deve Podiyam (19) was carrying a reward of ₹4 lakh. All three hail from Chhattisgarh. The other two Naxalites — a male and a female — are suspected to be minors and carried a collective reward of ₹8 lakh.