Chhattisgarh: Over 15 suspected Maoists killed in gunfight with security forces in Bijapur

More than 15 suspected Maoists were killed on Wednesday in a gunfight with security forces in the forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, PTI reported quoting an unidentified police officer.

The gunfight erupted in the morning in the Karregutta hills along the state’s border with Telangana during counter-insurgency operation ‘Mission Sankalp’, which began on April 21. At least 19 suspected Maoists have been killed since.

This is arguably the largest anti-Maoist operation launched by Indian security forces, and comes at a time when the insurgent Communist Party of India (Maoist) has repeatedly expressed its willingness to participate in peace talks.

The operation involves 24,000 troops of the District Reserve Guard, the Bastar Fighter Force, the Special Task Force, Chhattisgarh Police, the Central Reserve Police Force and its Commando Battalions for Resolute Action.

“All security forces are safe and fully committed to ensuring a safe and secure Bastar region,” an unidentified official told The Indian Express on Wednesday. “Search operations are on.” They added that security forces had found over 250 Improvised Explosive Devices in the region since April 21.

“Despite difficult geographical conditions and numerous challenges, the security forces are carrying forward this decisive operation against Left Wing Extremism with full commitment and determination,” the newspaper quoted Sundarraj P, inspector general of police for the Bastar range, as saying. “Many...

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