Fourteen Naxals were killed in a confrontation with Chhattisgarh police on Monday at the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border, according to the Chhattisgarh Police.
The police confirmed that one of the Naxal militants involved in the encounter had a bounty of 1 crore rupees on his head. The encounter is still ongoing, and further details are awaited.
Earlier, on January 17, two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were injured when Naxals triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) in Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh. The attack occurred when a BSF road-opening party was deployed between Camp Garpa and Garpa village. Narayanpur SP Prabhat Kumar confirmed the incident, adding that more information would be provided later.
On January 16, two CRPF jawans were injured in another IED blast set off by Naxals near Putkel village in Bijapur district.
Earlier, on January 12, five Naxals, including two women, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur. Authorities recovered a range of weapons and explosives, including an SLR rifle, a 12-bore rifle, two single-shot rifles, a BGL launcher, a locally made Bharmar gun, explosives, Maoist literature, and other Naxal materials.
Speaking to ANI about the South Bastar encounter, IG Bastar P. Sundarraj stated, “The bodies of 12 Naxals, including five women, were recovered in the encounter on January 16, which occurred at 9 PM between security forces and Naxalites.”
“We also recovered a large number of arms and ammunition. Our efforts to combat Naxalism continue as we press forward with our operations,” Sundarraj added.
