C'garh: 13 Naxals held during joint operation

Thirteen Naxals were arrested and a huge cache of weapons and explosives was seized from the naxal-infested Abuzmad region, as a part of the joint operation of Chhattisgarh police and Central Reserve Police Force, a top police official said.

Chhattisgarh Director General of police Anil Nawani told this to reporters during a press conference in Raipur on Monday.

"A strong force of around 3,000 policemen and CRPF jawans conducted a joint operation in and around Abuzmad region for about two weeks," Nawani said.

Thirteen Naxalites were held and rifles, explosive material, detonators, explosive computer printer, cameras, medicines, solar panels and other equipment was seized during the operation, Nawani said.

He said that it was for the first time that an operation involving huge police force was conducted in this "difficult terrain". Nawani added that during the operation, there were

around 12 exchanges of fire between the security forces and Naxals, in which, two CRPF jawans were injured, but are now out of danger.

He added that Ambuzmad region is considered very inaccessible and security forces had been sent there for the first time.