July 10: There has been a fierce gun battle between naxalites and security forces on Monday night when CRPF forces and special task police forces launched an anti-naxal operation in Elampatti Regadgata jungle at a distance of 550 km. from Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh.
During the operation forces were fired back by the Maoists. There was exchange of bullets for long. The struggle continued for almost three hours. Heavy rains in the area created problem for the forces which was taken advantage by the naxalites to attack the forces from behind.
In the whole exercise many of the security personnel estimated to be 41 including an Assistant Commandant of CRPF and 17 jawans are missing from the spot. According to the officials of police headquarters in Raipur, those who returned from the operation are badly injured and quite serious and some of them have been referred to a hospital in Jagdalpur, Bastar district.
There is no information about the missing people as radio communication has got disconnected and is yet to be resumed. But a joint search operation has been launched by the special task force of Chhattisgarh and Andhra’s greyhound with the help of air wing provided by union home ministry.
Such encounters are not new in the area but this time Maoists have taken retaliation badly. Forces also suffered due to bad weather. Operation was launched with 155 personnel out of whom only 71 returned after the conflict.
Search is going on to trace them. Officials have apprehensions that those not traced might be injured. SP of the area has also gone in search of the missing personnel with commandoes.
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