4-6 naxals killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Chhotekedwal forest

Security forces and Naxalites clashed in a brutal gunfight in Chhattisgarh's Sukma region on Saturday. Authorities say at least four to six ultras were killed or injured, but no remains have yet been recovered from the site.

According to officials, the Naxalites were able to take the injured or the deceased to the forests.

An encounter took place in Chhotekedwal forest village when security forces went on an anti-Naxalite operation this morning. Chhotekedwal is located in a Maoist stronghold on the border of Chintagufa and Kistaram police stations. According to authorities, the elite Commando Battalion for Decisive Action (CoBRA) of the Central Reserve Police Force and members of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of the state police took part in the operation.

According to officials, the operation was launched following information about the presence of Divisional Committee Member Raju, who is in charge of the Kistaram District Committee of Maoists, and Masa, who is in charge of Squad Number 8 and 30-35 cadres in Chhotekedwal, Badekedwal, and Singhanmadgu villages to celebrate the week of the martyrs of the movement.

Officials said the hour-long gunfight resulted in four to six ultras being injured or killed after the Naxalites fired at the security officers and met with retaliation.

“Ultras managed to drag the wounded or dead into the forest. The official said a search is underway in the area. To remember the deaths of their comrades in battle, Naxalites observe "Martyrs' Week" from July 28 to August 3.

As the ultras plan various subversive activities to damage public property and target police and paramilitary personnel during this time, security is heightened in several Naxalite-hit areas, particularly in seven districts of Bastar division, namely Dantewada, Bijapur, Bastar, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Sukma and Kanker.