The exchange of fire broke out in the early hours when a joint team conducting a search operation came face to face with the Maoists. Officials said the gun battle lasted for a brief period before the extremists retreated into the dense terrain.
The individuals arrested today include senior leaders, logistics and communication operatives, armed platoon members and party cadres. Many of them are closely linked to central committee member, Madvi Hidma, police said.
However, official confirmation of their identity is awaited. Automatic weapons were recovered from the slain militants, further underscoring the intensity of the battle, sources said.
Security forces dealt a major blow to Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, neutralizing 17 Maoists in a fierce encounter in Sukma district on Saturday.
: Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Bastar districts witness major anti-maoist operations, high-ranking cadre among the dead.
The shootout took place in the wee hours when a combing operation against the LWEs was underway in anticipation of a naxal offensive in the wake of Chhattisgarh naxal attack.
Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of the special operation group and Malkangiri district voluntary force had launched a combing operation in the area, DGP Abhay said.
It may be noted here that Malkangiri district in general and Kalimela PS area, in particular, are among the strongholds of the Maoists.
Eight Maoists – six of them women – were killed in a joint operation by Chattisgarh and Telangana security personnel…
Five Maoists were on Wednesday killed in an encounter with security forces in Serendaag jungle of Jharkhand's Latehar district, a senior police officer said.
