31 suspected Maoists killed since April 21 in Chhattisgarh’s Karregutta hills, says Amit Shah
Security forces have killed 31 suspected Maoists since April 21 in Chhattisgarh’s Karregutta hills as part of a counter-insurgency operation, announced Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday.
This was 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 involved 24,000 troops of the District Reserve Guard, the Bastar Fighter Force, the Special Task Force, the Chhattisgarh Police, the Central Reserve Police Force and its Commando Battalions for Resolute Action.
Describing the operation as a “historic breakthrough”, Shah said he was “extremely happy that there was not a single casualty in the security forces”.
He claimed that the Karregutta hills were the headquarters of several Maoist organisations, “where along with Naxal training, strategies and weapons were also developed”.
“I congratulate our CRPF [Central Reserve Police Force], STF [Special Task Force] and DRG [District Reserve Guard] soldiers who faced the Naxalites with their bravery and courage even in bad weather and inaccessible mountainous area,” said the Union home minister. “The whole country is proud of you.”
At a press conference during the day, Central Reserve Police Force Director-General Arun Dev Gautam said that 28 of the 31 suspected Maoists killed have been identified, reported...
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