Assistant commandant killed in anti-Naxal operations

NEW DELHI: An encounter between Naxalites and a joint CRPF-Chhattisgarh police team carrying out operations in Dantewada left an assistant commandant of the elite CoBRA unit dead and three other security personnel injured on Friday. Five CRPF personnel are still missing.

The casualties were, however, much higher on the Naxalites��� side, with at least 8 extremists having been killed over the last two days.

Around 140 personnel of the CRPF and the state police had on Thursday successfully busted an arms factory of the CPI(Maoist) in the deep jungles of Singamadagu in Dantewada. Acting on a tipoff, the security personnel swooped down on the Naxalites��� facility, which was stocked with leth machines possibly used to manufacture weapon parts. While two Naxalites were killed during the raid, the remaining managed to escape into the dense jungles.

However, the Maoists struck back the next day as the security personnel were resting on a hill before advancing further for more counter-Naxal operations. Sudden firing from the Naxalites, who had taken vantage positions, stunned the forces for a moment, leading to the killing of the assistant commandant and injuring three others. The security personnel, however, sprang immediately into action and engaged the Naxalites in a fierce encounter, killing at least six of their cadres. Though six bodies have been discovered, the forces believe the casualties may be higher as the Naxalites may have carried back some bodies while retreating into the jungles.

What is now causing concern among the forces are the five CRPF personnel who have gone missing following the encounter. There is no clue yet on whether they have been killed by the Naxalites (their bodies have not been found yet), are abducted or have managed to escape to safety.

The MHA, soon after learning of the Dantewada encounter, rushed a MI-17 helicopter to the spot to airlift the injured and reach them to a hospital in either Raipur or Hyderabad. A massive search is on account for the five missing CRPF personnel.