A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Sub-Inspector (SI) was killed, while a constable of the force sustained injuries, in a gun battle with Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma, the police said. Sukma is at a distance of about 430 km from State capital Raipur.
This is the third incident of Maoist violence reported in less than a week, even as the newly sworn-in BJP government has said that there was little room left for talks the left wing extremists, who are active in the Bastar region and in areas along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border.
According to the police, the incident took place at 7 a.m., when a team of the CRPF Battalion 165 headed from the Bedre police camp in the Jagargunda jurisdiction for an anti-Naxal operation. When the team was headed towards Ursangal, Maoists allegedly opened fire while taking cover in a densely forest area of that stretch.
The team shot back at the Naxals, who fled from the spot. In the attack, SI Sudhakar Reddy was killed and constable Ramu suffered a bullet injury, a police statement added. Mr. Ramu has been air-lifted to Raipur for treatment. Four men have been detained in connection with the incident, and the CRPF and local police force were combing the area till noon.
Later in the day, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that violence was a sign of panic among the Naxalites. He added that the State government would win people’s trust through development and end Naxalism with the help of the Central government.
The CM issued the statement after holding a high-level meeting in which the State’s anti-Naxal campaign was reviewed and instructions issued to speed it up. Present at the meeting were all senior officials, including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, and senior officers of the police and the Intelligence Department.
Instructions were also issued to provide all possible assistance to the families of the slain SI and injured constable.
