RAIPUR: Security forces gunned down at least 28 suspected Naxals in a fierce encounter in forests of Narayanpur district of Bastar division on Friday.
Preliminary information from police said that the encounter broke out in Abujhmarh forests alongside borders of Naryanpur and Dantewada districts around 1 pm. A joint team of District Reserve Guards and Special Task Force from Dantewada and Narayanpur districts were out on anti-Naxal operation, based on specific inputs received about the presence of Naxalites in Govel, Nendur, Thulthuli villages in Orccha and Barsur.
Officials said that the encounter took place when the forces were in forests near Thulthuli village.
While the jawans were reported safe, police officials confirmed that they have recovered 28 bodies of Naxalites along with automatic weapons including AK-47, SLR and explosives from the site of encounter.
However, the encounter continues in brief intervals in the forest and details will surface in sometime.
The bodies of Naxals killed are yet to be identified and officials said that it’s likely that the senior cadres were among those killed, and separate parties were searching the forest region.
With the latest killings, 171 Naxalites have been killed this year in Bastar region, according to Bastar police.
Officials said that Narayanpur region has been the core zone of Naxal hideout which they had always considered a safe haven and the dense forests made them comfortable to hold meetings of senior cadres, camp at one place for a long time and use the territory for accessing bordering forests.
With security forces penetrating into Abujhmarh forests in past few months, police said that Naxalites would definitely feel pushed back on the brink and their confidence will be shaken in terms with their dominance in Abujhmarh.
