In an extraordinary turn of events that unfolded during Tuesday's anti-Naxalite operation in Chhattisgarh's restive jungles, a Special Task Force (STF) jawan not only engaged in a fierce gunfight with the Naxalites but also fought off a wild bear attack.
Constable Mangal Mandavi, displaying remarkable courage, emerged with bite injuries on his leg after a close encounter with the wild animal.
The incident occurred on Tuesday in the dense forests bordering Narayanpur and Kanker districts, a known Naxalite stronghold called Abujmad.
Mandavi, currently recovering in a Narayanpur district hospital, recounted the harrowing experience.
While exchanging fire with Naxalite rebels amidst bamboo groves, a sudden commotion alerted him to the presence of three bears.
His colleagues managed to evade the animals, but one bear charged towards Mandavi, sinking its teeth into his leg.
Despite the excruciating pain, Mandavi bravely fought back with a stick, forcing the bear to retreat.
Remarkably, he continued his duty, engaging with the Naxalites even after sustaining the injuries.
"The situation in the forest is unpredictable," a senior police official remarked. "Security personnel not only face the threat of Naxalite insurgency but must also be constantly vigilant against wild animals."
The encounter itself proved a significant success for the STF and District Reserve Guard joint team.
Ten Naxalites, including three women, were killed in the operation.
Two of the deceased were identified as high-ranking Maoist cadres, Joganna and Vinay alias Ashok.
This incident comes on the heels of another major setback for the Naxalites just two weeks prior.
On April 16th, a separate encounter in Kanker district resulted in the elimination of 29 Naxalites.
The latest encounter site lies roughly 30 kilometers south of the previous location, highlighting the ongoing security operations targeting Naxalite presence in the region.
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