Two Border Security Force (BSF) troopers were killed and another injured in a gun battle with Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s restive Kanker district in Bastar on Sunday, police said.
The gunfight took place in a forested patch near Mahla camp of BSF under Partapaur police station limits when a team of BSF’s 114th battalion was returning after carrying out an anti-Maoist operation, according to Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) (Anti-Naxal Operations) Sundarraj P.
When the patrolling team was advancing through forest of Barkot village, it came under heavy fire from a group of Naxals leading to the gunbattle between the two sides, he said.
After a brief exchange of fire, the militants fled into core part of the jungle, the DIG said.
Two constables identified as lokender Singh and Mukdhiyar Singh, belonging to Rajasthan and Punjab respectively, were killed while another constable, Sandeep Dey, sustained injuries in the gunfight, he said.
Reinforcement was rushed to the spot and the bodies of the deceased were brought to the headquarters of BSF’s 114 battalion in Pakhanjore, he said.
The injured jawan was being airlifted to Raipur for further treatment, the DIG said.
On July 9, two BSF jawans, belonging to the 121st battalion, were killed when Naxals had triggered an IED blast while they were on a bike patrol in the Chhotebethiya area of Kanker.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raman Singh has expressed profound grief over the death of two BSF troopers on Sunday.
In his message, the Chief Minister condemned the attack by Maoists.Singh expressed deep sympathy with the families of the martyred troopers.