Fierce Encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker District Leaves 18 Maoists Dead

X: @the_news_21

In a major blow to the Maoist insurgency, at least 18 Maoists were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district on Tuesday. The fierce gunbattle broke out during a joint operation conducted by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) in the Binagunda area, under the jurisdiction of Chotebetiya police station.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the security forces launched the operation in the region. During the operation, the BSF team came under heavy fire from the Maoists, prompting them to retaliate, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

Kalyan Elesela, the Superintendent of Police in Kanker, initially confirmed the death of eight Maoists, stating that the number could rise as the combing operation was still underway. Later, the BSF issued a statement revealing that the bodies of 18 Maoists had been recovered from the encounter site.

In addition to the casualties, the security forces seized a significant cache of arms and ammunition, including seven AK series rifles and three Light Machine Guns (LMGs), from the scene of the operation.

The encounter also resulted in injuries to two security personnel, with one BSF personnel sustaining a bullet injury to the leg. However, the injured personnel are reported to be out of danger.

The anti-Naxal operation is still ongoing, with security forces continuing their combing operations in the area.

The development comes just days before Chhattisgarh begins polling for the Lok Sabha elections. The Bastar Lok Sabha constituency will vote in the first phase on April 19, while Kanker, along with Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund, will go to the polls in the second phase on April 26.

Since December 2023, the Bastar region, comprising seven districts, including Kanker, has witnessed the deaths of 68 Maoists in separate encounters with security forces. According to government records, a total of 70 encounters between Maoists and security forces took place in 2023, resulting in the deaths of 22 Maoists, while 394 Maoists were arrested during the period.

The successful operation in Kanker district serves as a significant blow to the Maoist insurgency in the region and underscores the commitment of security forces in their efforts to counter the threat posed by the Naxalite movement.

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