Encounter breaks out between STF Jawans and Naxals in Chhattisgarh

An encounter broke out between Special Task Force (STF) jawans and Naxals in the forest area near Orchha police station in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, according to officials.

During the encounter, the STF personnel remained safe as the Naxals fled the scene. The area is currently being searched. Officials have clarified that the viral information circulating on social media about Naxals surrounding polling booths is incorrect, and voting is proceeding as planned.

As the first phase of the Chhattisgarh polls is underway, Naxals fired at DRG personnel who were stationed approximately 2 kilometers away from Banda polling station on Tuesday morning, stated police officials. "Security forces retaliated and the firing from the Naxals stopped after 10 minutes," Sukma Police reported.


Thankfully, all personnel are safe, and voting is still ongoing, they added.

Today, voting is taking place in 20 out of the 90 assembly constituencies in the state. Several districts that are participating in the polls are known to have Naxal presence.

Earlier in the day, a Central Police Reserve Force (CRPF) jawan was injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in the Tondamarka area of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh. The jawan was deployed on election duty at the time of the incident.

According to Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, "One jawan of CRPF CoBRA 206 Battalion was injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in the Tondamarka area of Sukma. The jawan was deployed for election duty."

Chhattisgarh, with its 90-member house, is conducting elections in two phases, with the second phase scheduled for November 17. Out of the 20 constituencies currently voting, 12 are from the Bastar division.

Voting is taking place in Naxal-affected constituencies across districts like Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Kabeerdham, and Rajnandgaon.

The counting of votes is scheduled for December 3.

(Inputs from ANI)