CRPF officer killed in Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh; 4 suspects detained

A sub-inspector of the Central Reserve Police Force was killed and a constable injured in an encounter between security personnel and Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Sunday, the police said.

With this incident, three security personnel have been killed and seven others injured so far this month in different Naxal incidents in the state's Bastar division.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting of officials concerned and directed to expedite the anti-Maoist operation in the state, a statement issued by the state public relations department said.

The state government will eliminate Naxalism with the Centre's help, the CM said.

The latest incident took place on Sunday morning under Jagargunda police station area when a team of the CRPF's 165th battalion was out on an anti-Maoist operation, a police official said.

The operation was launched at around 7 am from Bedre camp towards Ursangal village, he said.

During the operation, an exchange of fire broke out in which sub-inspector Sudhakar Reddy was killed and constable Ramu sustained bullet injuries, he said.

After the exchange of fire stopped, four suspects were rounded up from the spot, he said.

A joint team of the CRPF, its elite unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action and district force personnel was carrying out a search in the area.

The injured constable was shifted to a hospital for treatment, the official said.

Reddy was a native of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, he said.

CM Sai expressed grief over the incident and paid tribute to the martyred SI. He directed officials to provide proper treatment to the injured jawan, an official statement said.
Sai chaired a high-level meeting of officials concerned and directed to expedite the anti-Naxal operation in the state.

"Maoists indulge in violence out of frustration. We will win the people's confidence through development (in Maoist-hit areas). We will eliminate Maoism with the support of the Centre," Sai was quoted as saying in the meeting.

The CM instructed officials to extend every possible assistance to the kin of the martyred personnel.

Chief secretary Amitabh Jain, director general of police Ashok Juneja and other senior officials were present in the meeting.

With this incident, three security personnel have died and seven others injured in separate Naxal incidents since December 2 in the Bastar region, which comprises Kanker, Kondgaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur districts.

On December 14, a Border Security Force jawan was killed in a blast triggered by Maoists in Kanker district, while a Chhattisgarh Armed Force jawan was killed in a Maoist attack in Narayanpur district on December 13.