Naxal leader and 28 neutralized
Top Naxal Commander and 28 Others Neutralized in Encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker.
An intense encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district resulted in the neutralization of at least 29 Naxalites, including a prominent leader, Shankar Rao. The gun battle, which left three security personnel injured, erupted under the jurisdiction of Chhotebetia police station during a joint operation by the District Reserve Guards (DRG) and the Border Security Force (BSF) aimed at flushing out Naxals from the forest area.
Earlier reports from the BSF indicated the recovery of 18 bodies and numerous weapons from the encounter site. Inspector General of Police (Bastar) P P Sundarraj highlighted the significance of this operation, emphasizing its scale and the intelligence leading to it.
Among the recovered arms were seven AK series rifles and three Light Machine guns. Despite one BSF personnel sustaining a bullet injury, the operation continued. This event marks one of the most significant Naxal casualties in recent times, following the death of 14 Naxals in the Dantewada area the previous month.
In a separate development, 26 Naxals, including six women, surrendered before the CRPF, just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. This surrender underscores the efficacy of the central forces’ strategy in compelling Naxal elements to lay down their arms, particularly in Dantewada. The surrendered group, along with their weapons, participated in an event held in Dantewada, signaling a shift in the region’s security dynamics.
