RAIPUR: Seven Naxals were today killed and a huge haul of weapons recovered after a fierce gun-battle between security forces and ultras in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Narayanpur district, police said.
"The skirmish took place in the dense forest of Kilam village under Chhottedongar police station limits of the district in which seven ultras, including three women, were gunned down," Inspector General of Police (in-charge) Bastar Range Sundarraj P told PTI.
A joint team of Narayanpur’s District Reserve Group (DRG) and district force had launched a counter-insurgency operation from Barsoor police station of neighboring Dantewada district this morning, he said.
When forces were cordoning off jungles of Kilam, which lies in the restive Abhujmad area about 350 kms away from the state capital Raipur, they came under heavy firing from a group of Naxalites leading to the encounter, the IG said.
However, rebels escaped from the spot on finding security personnel zeroing on them after a prolonged exchange of fire, he added.
"During search, security forces recovered body of seven ultras besides firearms, including two Insas rifles, and explosive materials from the spot," the IG said tagging the
operation as a major success.
Among the killed rebels, four were identified as Area Committee Members (ACM) of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) – Nasik, Somji, Janvati and Jamni, the IG said, adding, the four were carrying reward of Rs 5 lakh each.
The other killed were identified as Baldev, Ram Singh and Raimati.
While Raimati was a Jan Militia Section Commander of Bodli, Baldev and Ram Singh were active as Janatana Sarkar head and Janatana Sarkar deputy head respectively of the same Bodli region, the IG added.
Moreover, the recovered weapons also include two 12 bore rifle, one 315 bore rifle and one 12 bore pistol, he added.
Few other arms, ammunition and explosive materials have been recovered from the spot but the details would be made available once the party reaches back to its base camp, the officer added.
"The entire operation was planned and executed by Narayanpur SP Abhishek Meena in coordination with Dantewada SP Kamlochan Kashyap. The CRPF troops from Barsoor also provided required assistance in this operation," the IG said.
Chief Minister Raman Singh and senior police officials have congratulated the troops for the remarkable achievement, he added.