Chhattisgarh: Two BSF soldiers killed, another injured in gunbattle with naxals

At least two Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers were killed and another sustained serious injury in an encounter with naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district on Sunday, the police said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Anti-Naxal Operations) Sundarraj P said that a team of BSF’s 114^th battalion was attacked by the naxals in a forest area near Mahla BSF camp when they were returning after an anti-Maoist operation.

“When the patrolling team was advancing through the forest of Barkot village, located around 250 km from the state capital Raipur, it came under heavy fire from a group of naxals leading to the gun-battle between the two sides,” PTI quoted Sundarraj as saying.

After a brief exchange of fire, the naxals escaped and fled into the deep forest, he said.

“Two constables identified as Lokender Singh and Mukdhiyar Singh, belonging to Rajasthan and Punjab respectively, were killed while another constable, Sandeep Dey, sustained injuries in the gunfight,” the DIG said.

A reinforcement team was rushed to the spot and the bodies of deceased were brought to the headquarter of BSF’s 114 Battalion in Pakhanjore. The injured soldier was shifted to the state capital Raipur for treatment.

Earlier on July 9, two BSF jawans, belonging to the 121^st Battalion, were killed in an IED blast by naxals while they were on a bike patrol in the Chhotebethiya area of Kanker.

(With PTI inputs)