New Delhi: In an anti-Maoist operation in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday (December 3), at least 12 Maoists were killed while three security personnel lost their lives in the exchange of fire. Two other security personnel sustained injuries in the firing that continued till evening.

According to Bijapur superintendent of police Jitendra Yadav, the gunfight broke out along the district’s border with adjoining Dantewada, reported The Hindu.

“In the West Bastar Division area along the Bijapur-Dantewada inter-district border, a joint search operation is being conducted today by a joint team,” said Yadav.

The operation was carried out by personnel from the District Reserve Guards (DRG) of Dantewada and Bijapur districts, the Special Task Force, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action or CoBRA (an elite force of the CRPF trained in jungle warfare).

Bijapur SP Yadav said that the intermittent exchange of fire started at around 9 am.

According to inspector general of police (Bastar Range) P. Sundarraj,  the bodies of 12 Maoist cadres had been recovered from the site of the gunfight by 5pm.

“SLR rifles, .303 rifles, and other arms and ammunition have also been seized from the spot. The identities of the dead Maoists are yet to be established,” said Sundarraj.

‘In the encounter with Naxals, three DRG Bijapur jawans – head constable Monu Vadadi, constable Dukaru Gonde and DRG jawan Ramesh Sodi – were martyred. Two personnel were injured in the encounter. The injured jawans have been provided first aid and are out of danger. Appropriate arrangements have been made for further medical treatment,” he added.

Bijapur SP Yadav said that continuous search operations are currently underway in the area. “Additional reinforcement teams have been deployed. The force strength is adequate and the area has been cordoned off for further search,” he said.

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