Two Maoists were gunned down and another insurgent was arrested by the security forces after a fierce gun battle which took place in Chhattisgarh’s restive Kondagaon district, police said.
The encounter took place between a team of District Reserve Group (DRG) and insurgents in the dense forests of Kudhur village under Mardapal police station limits, according to Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bastar Range, S.R.P. Kalluri.
The security forces in Bastar division were directed to plan out a strategy to take on the insurgents who usually start their Tactical Counter-Offensive Campaign (TCOC) in January month when they step up their activities, he said.
“As per the operational plan, a DRG team of 35 personnel were sent from Kondagaon towards interior of Mardapal on January 3. While the team was returning, the Maoists laid an ambush and fired upon the DRG personnel in Kudhur jungles prompting security forces to return fire” he said.
On finding security personnel zeroing in on them, the insurgents fled from the spot.
later, during a search of the place, bodies of two uniform clad insurgents were recovered, he said.
Meanwhile Jai Singh, member of Kudhur lOS (local operation squad), was also arrested after a short chase while he was trying to flee from the spot, he said.
The Naxals were identified as Jati Ram who is ‘Commander’ of Kudhur lOS of Maoists and Holdhar Kashyap, a member of the outfit, he said.
Two muzzle loading guns and a country-made gun were also recovered from the spot, Kalluri said .