Chhattisgarh Encounter: Nine Naxals Killed In CRPF's Joint Operation In Dantewada, All Security Personnel Safe

Nine suspected Naxals were killed in an encounter with security forces on Tuesday (3 September) at the inter-district border between Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada and Bijapur districts, according to police.

On Monday, a joint team of the District Reserve Guards (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) initiated an operation in the area after receiving information about the presence of approximately 40 Naxals from the West Bastar division.

The encounter began at 10:30 am on Tuesday in Loha village, located within the forests of Purangel and Andri, about 50 kilometers from the Dantewada headquarters, Indian Express reported.

"After the firing ceased, search operations uncovered the bodies of nine Naxals dressed in PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) uniforms. Efforts are underway to identify them," said Gaurav Rai, Superintendent of Police for Dantewada district.

Officials reported that an SLR, a .303 rifle, and a 315 bore rifle were among the items recovered from the encounter site. All security personnel involved in the encounter are safe, and search operations are ongoing, sources said.

The encounter site is approximately 15 kilometers from the Mandimarka forests, where, on July 17 this year, two Special Task Force (STF) jawans were killed and four others injured in a major IED blast.

The Mandimarka forests are located at the tri-junction of Bijapur, Sukma, and Dantewada districts in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. In the past, both local residents and animals in the area have fallen victim to Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts.