CHHATTISGARH

Operation Prahar shakes confidence of Naxalites in Sukma

naxal-raipur-rep-pti Representative Image | PTI

The Operation Prahar is believed to have shaken the confidence of Naxalites here in the area as, for the first time, security forces have delved deep inside the Naxal core area in Sukma and launched a major offensive against them.

The security forces engaged the Naxalites' first battalion, comprising of top commanders, in Sukma's Tondamarka dense forest areas.

A composite squad of Chhattisgarh Police's Special Task Force, District Reserve Group (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite unit – CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) began the operation based on inputs about the location of Maoist hideouts in the interiors of Bastar. The 56-hour operation ended on Sunday morning.

P. Sunder Raj, DIG Bastar, told ANI that according to the ground inputs, “a large number of Maoists including their senior cadre have been killed. The exact Maoists' casualties will be announced after proper verification”.

He said that this was a successful operation and wherein the security forces entered the haven of the Naxalites and gave them a tough fight.

The police officer further said that the anti-Naxal operation continued with full steam despite the monsoon.

“We will continue to target the 'weakening' Maoist network,” Sunder Raj said.

Section commander Korsa Mahesh, who carried a reward of Rs eight lakh on his head, has been killed in the operation, and a SLR (self loading rifle) was recovered from him.

Abhishek Meena, SP, Sukma, said, “For the first time, the joint forces entered deep into the core area of the Maoists where their top commanders operate. Earlier, the security forces suffered heavy losses whenever they tried to enter the area. But, this time the scenario was different and as per reports, many senior Naxalites have been killed in Operation Prahar.”

Meena also said that this operation, which was based on impeccable intelligence inputs, has broken the myth of the villagers that nobody can enter deep into the base of the Naxalites.

“It's unfortunate that we lost our three jawans, but the Operation Prahar has proved that not only can the Naxalites' base be hit, but the hitting party can return safely,” Meena said.

“All the jawans are upbeat and want to launch a similar anti-Naxal operation soon,” the Sukma SP said.

He added that it is likely that top Naxalite commander Hidma might have been leading around 250 top commanders during the encounter.

Hidma led the first battalion of Naxalites which was targeted in this operation.

The 25-year-old dreaded commander is believed to have launched major attacks on the security forces, like the May 2013 Jeeram Valley attack, in which many top Chhattisgarh Congress leaders were killed, the recent March 11 attack in Sukma in which 25 CRPF personnel were killed, and Dantewada ambush in April 2010 in which about 76 CRPF troopers were killed.

Earlier in the day, Special Director General of Police (Naxal Operations), D.M. Awasthi told ANI that three District Reserve Guard jawans have been killed and five suffered injuries.

“Over one dozen Naxalites dead and eight to 10 were injured. It was a 56-hour-long operation. Approximately, 1,500 people participated in this joint operation that ended today. All the corpses could not be brought because of heavy firing. The firing lasted 12 hours approximately. It was the first initiative of its kind. Exact numbers will be received soon,” Awasthi said. 

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Topics : #naxals | #Chhattisgarh

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