Kanker, November 16 (HS): Security forces killed 5 Naxalites on Saturday on the Maharashtra border adjoining Kanker and Narayanpur in northern Abujhmad of Chhattisgarh. Security forces have recovered the bodies of all the slain Naxalites and a large quantity of weapons. The soldiers involved in the encounter claim that apart from this, many Naxalites have been injured. 2 soldiers, 23-year-old constable Hiraman Yadav and head constable 35-year-old Khileshwar Gawade, have been injured in the encounter. Both the injured soldiers have been admitted to Narayana Hospital in Raipur for better treatment. The condition of both is out of danger, the encounter is still going on.

The police had received concrete information that a large number of Naxalites, including Naxal leader Abhay, are present on the Maharashtra border adjoining the border of Kanker and Narayanpur districts in North Abujhmad adjoining Narayanpur and Kanker. After this, a joint team of DRG, STF, BSF was dispatched. When the police force reached the Naxalite hideout in the Abujhmad forest on Saturday morning, the Naxalites started firing at the soldiers. C-60 commandos have been deployed in the Gadchiroli area adjoining Kanker district to prevent the Naxalites from fleeing from this area towards Maharashtra.

Bastar IG Suddaraj P confirmed the encounter and said that on the information of the presence of Naxalites in the North Abujhmad area, a joint police party of DRG, STF and BSF was dispatched on a search operation. During the search, the encounter started at 8 am today. After a 4-hour encounter, the bodies of 5 Naxalites and a large quantity of Naxalite weapons have also been recovered in the search. The Naxalites killed have not been identified yet. He said that 2 soldiers involved in the encounter have been injured, whose condition is normal and out of danger. Necessary arrangements are being made for better treatment of both the injured soldiers.

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar