Two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were killed and a Special Task Force (STF) trooper was injured in separate encounters in Sukma and Narayanpur Districts of Chhattisgarh on February 19, reports The Pioneer. In the Sukma incident, the exchange of fire took place in a forest near Tondamarka village when a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on a counter-insurgency operation, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bastar range, Sundarraj P said. In another exchange of fire that occurred near Kasalpad village, one STF trooper was injured, he added. When a DRG patrolling team was cordoning off a forest area on Chintagufa-Chintalnar junction, an exchange of fire broke out between the two sides, and after the encounter the body of a Maoist was later recovered from the spot. Also, when Security Forces (SFs) were returning after the operation, an exchange of fire took place in the forest near Kasalpad that left one STF trooper injured, Sundarraj said. The identity of the slain Maoist is yet to be ascertained.
In another incident, a Maoist was gunned down in an encounter with the SFs near Ikul village in Abujhmaad area in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh on February 19, reports The Pioneer. Superintendent of Police (SP), Narayanpur, Mohit Garg, said, "After a brief exchange of fire, ultras escaped into the dense forest. During the search, the body of a Naxal was recovered from the spot." The identity of the slain Maoist was yet to be ascertained, he added.