Two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, including a woman, were killed in an encounter with the Security Forces (SFs) in the forests of Sukma District of Chhattisgarh early on July 29 (today), reports Outlook India. The encounter occurred around 7am [IST] in the forest near Kanhaiguda village under Konta Police Station limits when a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on a counter-insurgency operation, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Anti-Naxal [Left Wing extremism, LWE] Operations, Sundarraj P said. The DIGP disclosed, "When the patrolling team was advancing through the forest -- located around 500 km away from the capital Raipur -- a gun battle broke out with Naxals," adding, "After the firing stopped, we found the bodies of two ultras, including one woman, clad in uniform." Two firearms were also recovered from the spot. The identity of the slain Maoists are yet to be established. The DIGP said patrolling had been beefed up in the forests and interiors of all seven Districts of the Bastar division -- Dantewada, Bijapur, Bastar, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Sukma and Kanker -- as the Maoists were observing ‘martyr’s week’ from July 28-August 3.
Meanwhile, seven Maoist cadres, including three women cadres, were gunned down in an encounter with SFs in the forests of Tiriya in Jagdalpur city in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh on July 28, reports The Pioneer. The exchange of fire occurred at around 4 pm in the forest near Tiriya village under Nagarnar Police Station area, when a joint team of State Forces was out on a counter-insurgency operation, DIGP, Sundarraj P said. The joint squad of DRG and Special Task Force (STF) was carrying out operation in the forest along Chhattisgarh-Odisha border in Bastar, he said. Bodies of seven ultras, including three women, were recovered from the encounter site. Besides, one INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifle, four .303 rifles and a cache of muzzle loading guns were also seized from the spot, he added. “So far three Naxal cadres have been identified. They are area committee member Sitta, a resident of Chinateenarla village in Vishakhapatnam who was a member of the AOBSZC (Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee) supply team. Somulu, who is likely from Bijapur district was also a member of the supply team and Shanthi who was a member of the AOBSZC military platoon,” he said.
Separately, SFs of the DRG, Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and Police personnel from the Orchha Police Station acting on intelligence inputs of 40 to 50 Maoists near Raynar Batumpara area foiled a Maoist attack in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh on July 28, The Indian Express. When the team reached Raynar Batumpara area at around 1130 am, Maoists detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and started indiscriminate firing. According to Police, around 50 armed Maoists had formed an L-type ambush for inflicting maximum damage on SFs during ‘Shaheed Saptah’ (Martyrs' week observed by the CPI-Maoist). “The Maoists had laid put an L type ambush with multiple IED’s to cause maximum damage. The alert forces, however, realised this and engaged the Maoists who then exploded 2 of the IED’s following which there was an exchange of fire, Superintendent of Police (SP), Mohit Garg said. They escaped because of the terrain and the heavy rain. Because of the awareness of the forces and their tactical advance, a big incident was averted,” the SP added.
In addition, a Police team exchanged fire with a group of Maoists after an intelligence input in the Marjum forests of Katekalyan in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on July 28, reports The Indian Express. While camping material has been recovered, and the Police believe that Maoists may have suffered gunshot injuries, no dead bodies were recovered or arrests made.