Rescue teams searching for missing security personnel, says Chhattisgarh CM

Five security personnel were killed in the encounter with Naxals in jungles near Tarrem in Bijapur district on Saturday. 21 security personnel are yet to be found and seven injured security personnel are out of danger.

Bijapur: Around 21 security personnel are missing following the encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Saturday.

"A reinforcement party has rushed to the encounter spot. Bodies of two jawans have been recovered as of now," Chhattisgarh Police sources said. "23 injured have been admitted to Bijapur hospital and 7 have been admitted to a Raipur hospital," it added.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, "7 injured security personnel who were shifted to Raipur are out of danger. 21 personnel are missing & rescue team is searching for them. I received a call from HM Amit Shah. He has sent CRPF DG to the state. I'll return to Chhattisgarh in the evening."

He added, "The firing between Naxals and security personnel went on for 4 hours. Naxals have suffered heavy losses. The martyrdom of our security personnel will not go in vain."

Baghel also added that the Naxalites are fighting their last battle for existence as health, education, and other facilities are becoming accessible even to the remote villages and people are being disillusioned by the Naxalite ideology.

"Due to this, Naxalites are trying to make their presence known by carrying out such attacks. The state government is not afraid and is determined to take its development work to every village," the Congress leader added.

"In an encounter in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, initial reports indicate that three District Reserve Guard (DRG) and two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans have been martyred, one Naxal has also been killed, the encounter is on," CRPF had said.

On Saturday, Chhattisgarh Director-General of Police DM Awasthi had informed that the gunbattle broke out when a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Naxal operation.

For the last 10 days, security forces in Chhattisgarh were getting information about the whereabouts of Madvi Hidma, a top Naxal of banned CPI (Maoist) who has been linked to major attacks including the 2013 Jhiram Ghati killings.

Over 30 people including senior leaders of the Chhattisgarh Congress were killed in the Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack in 2013.

(With ANI inputs)