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In one of the biggest operations against Maoists in Chhattisgarh, security personnel killed as many as 28 Maoists in a fierce encounter in the Bastar region on Friday, a senior police official said.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai hailed the security forces for their operation and said the 'double engine' government (BJP government in the state and at the Centre) is determined to eliminate the menace.
The gunfight broke out at around 1 pm in the forest between Thulthuli and Nendur villages in Abhujmaad on the Narayanpur-Dantewada inter-district border, when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Maoist operation, inspector general of police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI over the phone
Personnel belonging to the state police's District Reserve Guard and Special Task Force were involved in the operation, he said.
Sundarraj informed that 28 Maoists were gunned down in the encounter.
Along with the 28 bodies, a cache of weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and one SLR (self-loading rifle), were recovered from the encounter spot, he said.
Earlier, Dantewada superintendent of police Gaurav Rai had said around 30 Naxalites were killed in the gun battle.
In a post on X, CM Sai said, "There is news of 28 Naxalites gunned down in an encounter with security forces in the border area of Narayanpur-Dantewada districts. The great success achieved by the soldiers is commendable. I salute their courage and valour."
"Our fight to eliminate Naxalism will end only after reaching its conclusion. Our double engine government is determined for this. Eliminating Naxalism from the state is our aim," he added
After the latest encounter, 185 Maoists have been gunned down by security forces in separate gun battles in the Bastar region comprising seven districts, including Dantewada and Narayanpur, so far this year, police said.
On April 16, as many as 29 Maoists, including some higher-ranking cadres, were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Kanker district.