Chhattisgarh police on Saturday said six Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Narayanpur district two days back who were carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 38 lakh.
According to the police, it was the biggest armed forces-led operation against the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) company no. 6, which is considered a pillar of the attacking force of Naxalites.
PLGA has created an atmosphere of fear among locals in the east Bastar division, which is considered their strong formation, they added.
The gunfight broke out near Gobel and Thulthuli villages under Orcha police station limits on Friday. While police earlier said seven Naxalites were killed, they later revised the toll to six, that included three women.
The deceased belonged to military company number 6 of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and east Bastar division formations of the proscribed Communist Party of India (Maoist), a police official said.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P at a press conference on Saturday, said, "The operation involving separate teams of security personnel was launched late night on June 6 on the border of Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Dantewada and Bastar districts based on inputs about the presence of Maoists of PLGA military company no. 6 and east Bastar division formations."
Personnel from the police's District Reserve Guard from four districts, 45th battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and 95th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPD) were involved in the operation, he said.
"At around 3 pm on Friday, Naxalites opened fire on security personnel in the forest near Bhatbeda-Battekal and Chhotetondebeda villages. The intermittent cross firing between separate teams of security personnel and Naxalites lasted for a long time following which Naxalites escaped into the dense forest taking cover of a hill," the IG said.
During a search of the site, bodies of six Naxalites clad in 'uniform' were recovered from different places along with two. 303 rifles, one. 315 bore rifle, 10 BGL (barrel grenade launcher) shells, one SLR magazine, a cooker bomb, five bags, a huge cache of explosives, medicines and items of daily use, Sundarraj said.
Blood stains were found at several places in the area, which indicate some other Naxalites were either killed or injured in the encounter, he said.
Four of the six slain ultras were identified as Masiya alias Mesiya Mandavi (32), sniper team commander and platoon no. 2 section 'A' commander, Ramesh Korram (29), deputy commander, Sanni alias Sundari, party member, and Sajanti Poyam, who was a member of the PLGA company no. 6 under east Bastar division of Maoists, the IG said.
"These four were carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh each on their heads. The remaining two were identified as Jailal Salaam, who was active as Bayanar area committee member and carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, and Janani alias Janni (28), carrying a bounty of Rs 1 lakh on his head," he said.
Assistant Sub Inspector Kachru Ram Korram (45), and constables Manglu Ram Kumeti (47) and Bharat Singh Dharal (23) received injuries in the encounter and were airlifted to Raipur for advanced treatment and their condition was stated to be out of danger, the official said.
"This operation is so far the biggest attack by security forces on company no. 6, which is considered a pillar of Naxalites' attacking force, Bayanar area committee and Aamdai area committee of Naxalites. It has created an atmosphere of fear among Naxalites in east Bastar division, which is considered their strong formation," Sundarraj said.
Following the operation, Naxalite leadership active in the border areas of Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Dantewada and Bastar district was reportedly blaming villagers and their lower cadres, he added.
The main objective is to protect people living in remote forests and difficult geographical conditions in Bastar division from Maoist ideology so that development and peace can be established in the region, Bastar and Dantewada Superintendents of Police Shalabh Sinha and Gaurav Rai said in the press conference. The two SPs appealed to Naxalites to shun violence and join the mainstream.
(With PTI inputs)
