Twelve Maoists, two police personnel killed in exchange of fire in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur

Two security personnel were also injured in the exchange of fire that took place in Indravati National Park in the district. Bodies of 12 uniformed Maoists have been recovered so far from the encounter site, police said.

Kothagudem: In a massive operation against naxals, as many as 12 Maoists and two security personnel were killed in an exchange of fire in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Sunday.

Two security personnel were also injured in the exchange of fire that took place in Indravati National Park in the district. Bodies of 12 uniformed Maoists have been recovered so far from the encounter site, police said.

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The condition of both the injured jawans was out of danger and they were being treated in a hospital. Additional forces have been sent for reinforcement. Search operations are continuing in the area. Heavy arms and ammunition were recovered from the spot.

Bastar range Inspector General of Police, Sundarraj P told the media that based on information about the presence of Maoists in the area, search operations were launched. Intermittent firing has been going on since morning. Bijapur District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and Bastar Fighters have been taking part in the operation.

Over 35 Maoists have been killed in encounters in the past couple of months. It might be noted that eight Maoists were gunned down by the security forces in an anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on February 1 while a naxal was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district on Feb 3.

As many as 12 Maoists were killed in a massive encounter in Bijapur district on January 16 while top leaders escaped. 16 Maoists were killed in a joint operation in Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh along the Odisha borders on January 21 by the CRPF, Special Operations Group SOG of Odisha and Chhattisgarh police.