A commando of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed and another was injured in an exchange of fire with the cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in a forested area near Palodi village under Kistaram Police Station limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh on February 18, reports Indian Express. According to a senior Police Officer, “Acting on a tip-off about the presence of the Maoists, the commandos were sent to Pamed area in Bijapur District. The team was attacked by the Maoists while they were on the way to the District.”
Meanwhile, a CoBRA commando of the CRPF, who was injured in an exchange of fire with Maoists in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on February 10, succumbed to his injuries in Raipur District on February 18, reports The Times of India. Earlier, South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP)reported that two CRPF personnel and a Maoist cadre were killed in an exchange of fire in Bijapur District on February 10. Six personnel of the 204th Battalion of CoBRA were also injured in the encounter.
In a separate incident, seven Maoists were arrested by a team of CRPF and District Police from a forested area near Basaguda village under Usur Tehsil (revenue unit) in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on February 18, reports The Week. According to a Police Official, four of the arrested Maoists were involved in triggering an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) between Sarkeguda and Tarrem villages in the District on November 22, 2019, in which a trooper was injured. Among the three, one identified as Uika Sukma (32) was involved in the murder of a villager in Tarrem.