CRPF officer killed, jawan injured in encounter with Naxals in Chhattsigarh

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer was killed and a jawan injured in an exchange of fire with Naxals in Chhattisgarh's left-wing extremism affected Bijapur district on Saturday, officials said.

Raipur: An officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and a jawan was injured in an encounter with Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Saturday. The encounter took place between the CRPF 188 battalion and Naxalites. The slain CRPF officer has been identified as Assistant Commandant Shanti Bhushan Turkey.

Inspector-General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said that the incident took place around 9.30 am near a rivulet close to Putkel village under Basaguda police station limits when a team of CRPF's 168th battalion was out on a road-security duty.

When the patrolling team was cordoning off a forest near Dongal Chinta rivulet in a forest, around 450 km away from capital Raipur, it came under heavy fire from a group of Maoists leading to the gunfight, he added.

"Assistant Commandant Shanti Bhusan Tirkey, belonging to the CRPF's 168th battalion was killed in the incident, while jawan Appa Rao sustained injuries," the IG said.

He also said that upon receiving information about the encounter, CRPF rushed reinforcements to the spot adding that currently, the situation is under control. The IG said that search operation is currently underway in adjoining areas.

Tirkey, a resident of Dibdih in Ranchi. He is survived by his wife Pushpa, son Aniket and daughter Anisha. He was posted in 168 Battalion as Assistant Commandant on 4 August 2018.

(With agency inputs)