A hardcore Maoist was arrested after a fierce gun battle with the security forces in Antagarh area of insurgency-hit Kanker district of Bastar on Wednesday.An AK-47 rifle was seized from the insurgent, Superintendent of Police, Kanker, RN Dash said on Wednesday.
He said that police had received intelligence inputs that Jairam, who is DVC (Divisional Committee Member) of Naxal Committee active in Antagarh region, had been moving in the jungles near Ghasimunda village under the limits of Antagarh police station for opposing the Independence Day celebration along with several other guerrillas.
“Despite heavy rainfall in the region, a joint team of District Force (DF), Border Security Force (BSF) and Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) reached the bordering jungle of Ghasimunda where the insurgents opened fire upon the security personnel,” he said.
After heavy firing from both the sides which lasted for about half-an-hour, the insurgent found themselves encircled and fled into the dense part of the jungle, Dash said. later on, during a searching of the area, an injured Naxal DVC Jairam was spotted who was arrested with his AK-47 rifle, he said.
Dash said that during inspection of the area, blood marks describing grievous injury due to gunshots were also spotted.“It seems few insurgents have suffered bullet injuries in the encounter but they managed to flee into dense forest with the help of their fellow cadres,” SP said. Jairam after being arrested was rushed to District Hospital, Antagarh for treatment. Seeing the serious condition of Jairam, police tried to airlift him to Raipur but due to bad weather condition, he was sent to Raipur on 108 Ambulance service, the SP said.
This is for the first time that an AK-47 rifle has been recovered from any insurgent in Kanker district, Dash said.Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bastar, SRP Kalluri has announced a reward for the police party which successfully executed the action.