In a fierce gunfight between the security forces and Naxals in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, five jawans were killed and 20 were reportedly injured. The security forces also gunned down three Naxals including a woman operative and recovered an Insas rifle. Amongst the deceased jawans, two were from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and three were from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), reported India Today.

“Five jawans died and 12 others injured in the 3-hour-long encounter with Naxals at Sukma-Bijapur border in Sukma district. Body of a woman Naxal has been found at the encounter site”, DIG (Naxal Operations) OP Pal informed ANI on Saturday.

The Indian Air Force has now deployed Mi-17 helicopters to help the paramilitary forces for rescue operations in Sukma where five jawans breathed their last in a fierce encounter with the Naxals, reported ANI quoting the sources.

In the light of heavy firing and gunfight at the Bijapur-Sukma border area on Friday night, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel has directed to provide better treatment facilities for the soldiers injured in the encounter.

The recent reports suggest that Naxals fired upon a joint party of the CRPF and the DRG, following which the encounter started in the Silger forest of Bijapur’s Tarem. The joint party comprised nearly 400 personnel of the STF, DRG, CRPF and COBRA that were out for an anti-Naxal operation.

The deployed Mi-17 helicopters have proved to be a formidable support for the jawans injured in the gunfight in Sukma district. The news agency ANI, recently reported that three jawans of the District Reserve Guard were airlifted from Sukma to Raipur for treatment.

A team of troopers reportedly got trapped in an ambush near Tarrem on Saturday noon followed by an encounter that continued for nearly three hours, reported Indian Express.

Detailing the Saturday’s encounter between jawans and the Naxals, Inspector General of police in Bastar, P Sundarraj, revealed that at least 9 more Naxals have been killed and around 15 others were injured in the encounter. However, he also mentioned that the forces need more time to confirm the initial information and estimated that there were 250 Naxalites there.

“According to initial information, at least 9 more Naxals have been killed and around 15 others were injured in the encounter. We will need more time to confirm this. As per our estimates, there were 250 Naxalites there”, P Sundarraj, Inspector General of police in Bastar told the news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, the recent skirmish amongst jawans and Naxals, has made it to the headlines. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday issued a statement about the same and mentioned that the “sacrifices of the brave martyrs will never be forgotten.” Expressing his concerns for the injured jawans, PM Modi has wished for the soldiers’ speedy recovery.

“My thoughts are with the families of those martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. The sacrifices of the brave martyrs will never be forgotten. May the injured recover at the earliest”, PM Narendra Modi said on Saturday expressing his concerns for the jawans.

Follow on Google News
TOPICS: Bhupesh Baghel Indian Air Force