Maoist insurgents attacked security forces engaged in search operations at village Kausalnar in Narayanpur district Tuesday afternoon in which three jawans of Chhattisgarh Armed Forces have died while about half a dozen rebels were also killed in the encounter.
Some jawans also suffered injuries even as gun fight between the two sides continued for more than an hour. According to Director General of Police Ramniwas, a joint team of district police and Chhattisgarh Armed Forces was returning after conducting search operations in Kausalnar, Maharabeda and Jharaghati areas when it was attacked by Maoists hiding near Kausalnar.
In the attack three CAF jawans – Som Bahadur Thapa, Mahendra Singh and Manoj Singh were killed. Over half a dozen Maoists were also gunned down in the encounter. While the body of a Maoist was recovered by police, the rebels succeeded in taking away the bodies of other insurgents killed in the gunfight, Ramniwas added.
According to sources, a joint team of DF and CAF comprising nearly 60 jawans had gone to conduct search operation in Kausalnar, Maharabeda and Jharaghati areas some 30 km away from district headquarters Narayanpur, in view of the approaching Independence Day. The Maoists insurgents, who are opposing Independence Day celebration, ambushed the team by intense firing near Kausalnar. All the three places are considered as stronghold of insurgents as they earlier also attacked security forces on several occasions.
Meanwhile, the bodies of martyred Jawans were brought to the nearest Dhaurai police station from where they would be taken to district headquarters at Narayanpur and will be paid tributes before being sent to their native places for cremation. Notably, 27 security personnel were killed in Maoist attack at Maharabeda on 29 June 2010 where as the Rebels abducted five security Jawans from Jharaghati on 25 January 2011. Five jawans were also killed in Naxal attack in May 2012 under Jhara Thana.
located on Orchha Road, in Jharaghati Maoists often target convoy of security forces forcing the administration to set up police post as well as camp of CAF in the area. However, due to lack of knowledge about its geographical details the area remains a nightmare for security forces specially for newly posted jawans. This is considered as the biggest attack of Maoists after May 25 Jeeram Valley attack on Congress party convoy in which over 30 leaders and workers including CGPCC president Nandkumar Patel, former Union minister V C Shukla, Mahendra Karma, Udai Mudliyar were killed and more than 30 people were also injured.