A BSF helicopter, involved in airlifting commandos conducting anti-Naxal operations for the Andhra Pradesh Greyhounds, was reportedly fired at by Naxalites in the jungles of south Bastar in Chhattisgarh.
BSF officials, however, did not confirm firing at its Mi 17 helicopter that flew from North Battikula along the Chhattisgarh-Andhra Pradesh border to Bhadrachalam in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Officials said the helicopter conducted its last sortie successfully at 5.45 pm on Wednesday. "The BSF Mi 17 helicopter, in fact, conducted a daring mission to rescue five stranded security personnel in a well coordinated action. Besides, 20 other personnel were airlifted towards last light," a senior BSF official said.
Reports reaching here, however, claimed the Mi-17 helicopter suffered bullet shots in the cockpit area but landed safely with the last passenger load of 'Greyhound' commandos in Bhadrachalam. The helicopter is said to have been fired at in Puwarti village under Jagargunda police station area of the district in south Bastar during the evening hours.
The helicopter was pressed for troop evacuation after the commando squad conducted an anti-Maoist operation in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday where 10 Naxals were killed.
Two IAF Mi-17 helicopters were also part of the same operation on Wednesday but they were safe during their entire operation and transported 30 Greyhounds personnel from Chhattisgarh to Andhra Pradesh.
This is the second incident of Naxalites firing on security forces' helicopters after an IAF helicopter was hit in January in the same district in which the IAF pilot and Garuda commandos left the armed helicopter and a wounded wireless operator to take cover at a nearby CRPF camp.