Maoists were armed with LMG, looted weapons
Maoists were armed with LMG, looted weapons
NEW DELHI/ RAIPUR, Apr 4:
The ambush that left 22 security personnel dead in Chhattisgarh was led by some 400 Maoists who surrounded the jawans from three sides in an area devoid of vegetation and rained on them machine gun fire as well as IEDs for several hours, officials said today.
Some 10-12 Naxals are also believed to have died in the fierce gunbattle that ensued.
The security victims were from a contingent of about 1,500 troops, drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force’s specialised jungle warfare unit CoBRA, its regular battalions, a unit of its Bastariya battalion, the Chhattisgarh Police affiliated District Reserve Guard (DRG) and others. They had launched a search and destroy operation along the border of Bijapur-Sukma district after they got inputs of Maoists presence in the area.
Bijapur encounter: Unidentified caller claims missing jawan in Maoist captivity, wife appeals to PM Modi for release
The CRPF has received reports that constable Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, who went missing in the Bijapur encounter on Saturday, was taken captive by Naxals. The speculation arose after calls were allegedly made by Naxal leader Hidma to Chhattisgarh-based journalists claiming the same.
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UPDATED: April 5, 2021 17:35 IST
The Naxals are yet to make any demands for the return of CRPF jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas. (Photo sourced by India Today)
The fate of 35-year-old constable Rakeshwar Singh Manhas is unknown since he went missing from the Bijapur encounter site on Saturday.
Amit Shah leaves for Chhattisgarh to review Maoist attack
Mon, Apr 05 2021 10:45:10 AM
New Delhi,
Apr 5 (IANS): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday left for Chhattisgarh to review the security situation in the wake of the deadly Maoist attack in which 22 security personnel were killed. Shah will meet the security personnel injured in the attack.
Shah will visit the gun battle site in Chhattisgarh s Bijapur where the attack took place, a Home Ministry official said.
The Home Minister later will take a review meeting and then reach Raipur to see the injured security personnel.
Shah also reviewed the gun battle inicident on Sunday at his residence in the National Capital, asserting that the fight against Maoists will continue and we will take it to the end .
The little girl is heard saying in the video, Mere Papa ko Chod do (release my father). Wife Meenu has also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure the safe return of her husband. As you brought Abhinandan (Varthaman) back from Pakistan, please bring back my husband too, she urged the prime minister.
Manhas happens to be a resident of Jammu Kashmir. The abducted jawan is believed to be a captive of Madvi Hidma, the commander of the People s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion number 1, the outfit behind the latest massacre. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Kamlochan Kashyap, while speaking to media, did not rule out the possibility of the jawan being in the custody of Naxalites. âYes, the jawan might be in their captivity as security forces had searched for him after the incident in a five-six km radius but could not trace him.â
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