In a major crackdown by CRPF, at least 20 Naxalitesincluding a woman were killed in a fierce overnight gunfight in the densejungles of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh that also left six jawans wounded.
The CRPF has recovered 18 bodies of the suspected Naxaliteswhile one of the ultras died after he was shifted to a hospital in statecapital Raipur as he had sustainedbullet injuries.
"Sixteen bodies were recovered at Basuguda while twowere recovered from Penta near Chintalnar. The forces have also recoveredweapons and other belongings from the Naxals hideout," CRPF IG(Operations) at force headquarters in Delhi Pankaj Singh said.
Sources said the Naxals fled with the body of one of itscadres
The encounter, which took place in the forests of Silger, anuncharted Maoist zone between the Naxal hotbed of Jagargunda and Basaguda inBijapur district of Bastar region, was launched last night in a joint operationby over 300 CRPF and state police personnel from three directions.
Officials said there were reports of more Naxals beingkilled in the encounter but the bodies could not be recovered.
Home Minister P Chidambaram, while interacting with themedia in the national capital said among the killed ultras, three were"important leaders" of the Naxalites cadre and identified them asSomulu, Nagesh and Mahesh.
"The CRPF and security forces dealt with the incidentbravely and with great courage and skill," he said.
This is the biggest offensive by security forces in a Naxalstronghold in Chhattisgarh this year.
Six CRPF men, including two CoBRA commandos, sustainedbullet injuries and have been air-lifted for medical aid to Raipur.Two of them are critical, officials said.
This is the same area, close to Chintalnar, where Naxals hadcarried out an audacious attack on security forces killing 75 CRPF men and onestate police personnel in 2010.
Chidambaram said the operation was a planned one by the CRPFand state police but the "first fire" came from the Maoists and theforces were subjected to heavy firing.
He said there were 45 ultras who ambushed the securityforces' squad.
Keeping in view the tough terrain and presence of a bigNaxal squad in mind, the CRPF had deputed a deputy inspector general and twocommandant-rank officers, supported by an additional SP of state police, tolead the operation.
The CRPF mobilised three units of commandos and regulartroops, aided by two helicopters for the encounter from three directions --Jagargunda, Chintalnar and Basaguda.
The security forces also recovered some weapons, .303 riflesand other paraphernalia after the area was searched by them.
The encounter comes over a month after Maoists had abductedand subsequently released the Collector of Sukma district Alex Paul Menon inBastar region.
The CRPF has deployed about 20 battalions (20,000 personnel)for undertaking anti-Naxal operations in the state.
