Bijapur, 3 December (H.S.):

A major encounter erupted along the Bijapur–Dantewada inter-district border in Chhattisgarh’s restive Bastar region on Wednesday morning, leaving seven Naxal cadres dead and two security personnel martyred, while one more sustained injuries.

According to police officials, the gun battle broke out around 9 a.m. in the dense forests of the West Bastar Division when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from both Dantewada and Bijapur, Special Task Force (STF), and CRPF’s elite Cobra unit launched a search operation in the area.

The exchange of fire continued intermittently for several hours.Bastar Inspector General of Police (IG) Sundarraj P. confirmed that the bodies of seven Naxal cadres have been recovered so far from the encounter site, along with SLR rifles, .303 rifles, ammunition, and other combat materials.

The identification of the slain Maoists is yet to be confirmed.During the fierce exchange, DRG constables Monu Wadadi and Dukaru Gonde lost their lives in the line of duty, while another jawan, Somdev Yadav, sustained injuries and was evacuated for treatment.

The IG added that reinforcement teams have been rushed to the encounter zone, and a cordon-and-search operation is still underway. “The force strength on the ground is adequate, and combing operations are continuing in the adjoining forest areas.

Detailed information will be shared once the operation concludes,” Sundarraj said.The encounter marks one of the most intense anti-Naxal operations in recent weeks in south Bastar, reflecting the continued pressure of security forces on Maoist strongholds across the region.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar