In a big operation in Gariyaband district of Chhattisgarh, ten Naxals, including a senior leader, were shot dead. Among those who were killed was a member of the Communist Party called Manoj, also known as Modem Balkrishna. A reward of one crore rupees was being offered for his capture.
Efforts to combat Naxal presence in the Mainpur forest region, under directives from senior officials, operated jointly by E-30, STF, and COBRA to launch an anti-Naxal operation. Since morning, security forces have been having occasional clashes with Naxals. Initial reports suggest that several casualties may have occurred during the exchange of fire.
The operation involved CRPF Cobra commandos and personnel from the Chhattisgarh Police. Officials confirmed, "10 naxals, including CC member Manoj urf modem Balkrishna, were neutralised in Gariyaband district of Chhattisgarh."
Authorities have confirmed that detailed information will be issued separately after the operation concludes, once ground verification is completed. The operation is part of the ongoing intensified Naxal eradication campaign in Gariyaband district.
"Personnel belonging to Special Task Force (STF - a unit of the Chhattisgarh police), E-30 (a unit of the district police), CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action - an elite unit of the CRPF) and other state police units are involved in the operation. Intermittent exchange of fire is still underway," the IGP said.
"Ten Naxalites, including senior cadres, have been gunned down so far. Further details are awaited as the operation is still underway," he added.
According to police, the operation was started in response to information regarding the movement of prominent Naxalites in the region, which is more than 180 kilometers from Raipur, the state capital.
In a post on 'X', Shah said, "Security forces have achieved another major success against Naxalites today. In Chhattisgarh, CRPF's Cobra Commando, Chhattisgarh Police and DRG conducted a joint operation and killed 10 notorious Naxalites including CCM Modem Balakrishna alias Manoj, who had a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head." The remaining Naxalites should also surrender in time, Shah said in the post while asserting that complete elimination of red terror is certain before the upcoming March 31.
241 Naxalites have been slain in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh this year, including the most recent action. Of them, 27 were shot dead in the Raipur division's Gariaband district, while 212 were killed in the Bastar division, which included seven districts. According to police, two more Naxalites were slain in Durg division's Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district.
16 Naxalites, including Chalpathi alias Jairam, a member of the Maoists' central committee and Odisha state committee, were slain in a clash with security forces in the same Mainpur neighbourhood of Gariaband in January of this year. In separate clashes in Chhattisgarh last year, security forces killed 219 Naxalites.
Also Read: Chhattisgarh forces gun down top Naxals with ₹1.16 crore bounty
Follow us
