14 Naxals arrested in Chhattisgarh

Fourteen Naxals including four women were arrested in two separate operations in the insurgency-hit regions of Chhattisgarh today, police said.

"Eleven cadres were apprehended after a gun-battle between security forces and ultras in Balrampur district of Surguja division," a senior police official told PTI.

Acting on a tip off, a joint squad of CRPF and district police was on a combing operation in Lahsunpath forest within Shankargarh police station limits when rebels attacked them early morning.

However, they fled to the core forest when security forces retaliated, he said.

Later, security personnel launched an intense search in the forest around the encounter spot and nabbed eleven suspects, he said.

Those held were identified as Sheetal Ram, Phool Sai, Kunwar Sai, Baldev, Tarsen, Moti Nageshiya, Prajapati and four women - Vinita Kumhar, Laxmi, Rekha and Prajapati.

"Besides, six .315 bore rifle, one .314 bore country made gun, two detonators, bags, solar energy plates and some other explosive material were also seized," the officer said.

In the second incident, three Naxals were arrested during a search operation in Narayanpur district of Bastar region by local police from a forest in Benoor police station limits, the official said.

The security personnel were on a combing operation in the restive Benoor area when they spotted 7-8 people near a nullah in Korenda village, around 350 km away from Raipur, he said.

On seeing the police team, they began fleeing, but three of them were arrested after a long chase, the official said.

Those arrested were identified as Somnath, 20, Manaru Wadde, 23 and Suden, 45. They were involved in several incidents of violence in the region, the official said.

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