Naxal commander killed in Chhattisgarh encounter

A Naxal commander was killed and many ultras are feared injured in an encounter with a joint team of police and the Central Reserve Police Force in Bijapur forests of Chhattisgarh, the police said on Tuesday.

"The gun battle between the Naxals and the joint team of the district police and the CRPF took place in the forests of Gorna Pujaripara villages under Bijapur police station limits, over 400 kilometres from Raipur, on Mondaynight," a senior police officer told PTI.

He said the joint team came under naxal fire when it was conducting combing operations in Gorna, Mankeli and Pangud villages in the region. On seeing the patrol party nearing Gorna village, about 20-30 armed rebels, including women, opened indiscriminate fire which was retaliated, leaving the Naxal commander dead, the officer said.

"Several other Naxals had received bullet injuries but their comrades managed to flee along with them to core forest area by taking advantage of darkness," according to the officer.

He said that even though identity of the slain Maoist was being established, prima facie he appears to be militia commander of Gorna and Bodlapusnar area in the region. The police recovered a .303 rifle, few live rounds, a couple of hand-grenades, a bag and other things of daily use from the spot.

"The search party reached to its camp this evening after conducting the operation," the official added.