At least 20 naxals were killed in an encounter operation in Bijapur, the Inspector General of Central Reserve Police orce informed on Tuesday.
The IG said that around 350 paramilitary personnel were part of the operation. He said that they have witnessed Maoists wearing uniform of COBRA for the first time.
On the other hand, eight Naxals, allegedly involved in the deadly attack on CRPF personnel last month, were today arrested from two places in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, police said.
With this, the number of ultras arrested for the April 24 attack has risen to 17, officials said.
Abt 350 jawans part of the Op,first time saw Maoists wearing COBRA uniform,20 naxals killed in Op:IG,CRPF on encounter of naxals in Bijapur pic.twitter.com/iY7jCEvjAp
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 16, 2017
Five of them were apprehended from Chintalnar police station limits, while the rest from Chintagufa police station area during joint search operations carried out by CoBRA and district police force, Jitendra Shukla, Sukma’s Additional Superintendent of Police, told.
CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) is a specialised unit of CRPF.
#WATCH: Joint ops conducted by CoBRA, DRG, STF & Chhattisgarh police in Naxal-affected areas at the borders of Bijapur & Sukma (May 12-16) pic.twitter.com/GN6UnPfDnK
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 16, 2017
Among the arrested rebels, Madkam Kesha (25), Madvi Kosa (30) and Tati Kosa (25) were associated with the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisaan Mazdoor Sangthan (DAKMS), a wing of Maoists, while Oyam Hadma (21) and Kunjam Vichem (25) were members of ‘Jan Militia’, a special unit of Naxals, the senior officer said.