Naxal Attack in Chhattisgarh, in an encounter 3 CRPF Personnel are killed and 14 are injured.
The incident took place hours after a new security camp was established in the village, On Republic Day; the Indian Tricolour was hoisted for the first time in the Sukma-Bijapur area.
The incident took place in Suma Bijapur village which is 616 km away from the state capital Raipur, the same incident took place at this place in 2021, 23 soldiers were killed at that time.
After setting up a new camp, security personnel were conducting anti-Naxal operations in the Jonaguda-Aliguda area when Maoists opened fire at the personnel, taking advantage of the forest cover.
The Jawans retaliated back with firing, but the Naxalites ran away and took shelter in dense forest. The three deceased were identified as Constables Deven C and Pawan Kumar from the CoBRA 201 and Constable Lambdhar Sinha from the CRPF battalion. The CoBRA is a specialized force under the CRPF to combat extremists and insurgents in guerrilla/jungle warfare operations. Among the three slain personnel, two belonged to the CoBRA’s 201st battalion and one to the CRPF’s 150th battalion, a senior police officer said.
The injured Jawans have been airlifted for treatment to Raipur Hospital.
Naxal Attack in Chhattisgarh
Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting with stakeholders in Raipur on Left Wing Extremism (LWE), where he said the Maoist menace should end in the next three years.
January has also seen five alleged Naxals, including two women, being killed in encounters in the state. A six-month-old girl had also died in cross-firing during an anti-Naxal operation.
Since November last year, nine new police camps have come up in Sukma and Bijapur districts.
In 2022, 10 security personnel, 33 civilians and 32 Naxals were killed in Chhattisgarh. But the election year 2023 saw a sharp rise in the deaths of security personnel, with 24 casualties in the state. The deceased included an Army jawan who was on leave, visiting his home in Kanker.
Further, 31 civilians and 23 alleged Naxals were also killed last year.
As many as 23 security personnel were killed in an encounter with Naxalites in the same Tekalgudem forest in April 2021.
#BreakingNews: 3 CRPF personnel killed, 14 injured in a Naxal attack on CRPF convoy in #Chhattisgarh‘s #Sukma district
Times Network’s @aruneels shares more details
Watch #DailyMirror with @SnehaMKoshy pic.twitter.com/Fp8DQZhf3P
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Who are Naxalites?
Naxalites, also known as Naxal Maoists or simply Naxals, are members of various Maoist groups that operate in different regions of India. The term “Naxalite” is derived from the Naxalbari village in the Indian state of West Bengal, where the movement originated in 1967. The Naxalite movement is inspired by the communist ideology of Mao Zedong, and its goal is to establish a communist state through armed struggle and revolutionary means.
The Naxalite movement began as a peasant uprising in Naxalbari, where landless farmers and tribal communities revolted against oppressive landlords and sought to redistribute land. The movement quickly spread to other parts of India.
Naxalites follow a Maoist ideology, advocating for the rights of peasants and workers, opposing feudal structures, and aiming to establish a classless and stateless society. They believe in armed struggle as a means to achieve their goals.
Naxalite groups operate in several states in India, primarily in the so-called “Red Corridor,” which includes areas in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
Naxalites have been involved in armed confrontations with security forces, attacks on government establishments, and assassinations of political figures that they perceive as enemies. They often target symbols of authority and engage in guerrilla warfare tactics.
The Indian government has launched various counter-insurgency operations to combat Naxalism. Additionally, efforts have been made to address the socio-economic issues that contribute to the movement, such as land reforms and development initiatives in affected regions. The conflict between Naxalites and security forces has raised concerns about human rights abuses on both sides. Civilian populations in the affected areas often bear the brunt of the violence and displacement.
Over the years, the Naxalite movement has evolved, with some factions focusing on social issues and grassroots movements, while others remain engaged in armed insurgency.