37 Maoists, 17 civilians, 6 security personnel: Casualties mount as anti-Naxal ops pick up pace in Chhattisgarh

Inspector General of Police for Bastar range, Sundarraj P, also said that 167 Maoists have been arrested and 116 have surrendered so far this year.

Speaking to The Indian Express recently, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, “In the previous Congress government, the anti-Naxal operation was very weak. In fact, we heard that Naxals used to say this is our government. But when BJP came to power our double engine sarkar strengthened the fight. Our Home Minister (Vijay Sharma) is also concerned about it. But we have also taken a path where if any Maoists want to surrender, then we will do fair justice with them. Also, the doors are open for them (Maoists) too. We can have a dialogue provided they give up the language of using guns and join the mainstream of development.”

Last week, Maoists had murdered three villagers in Basaguda, terming them police informers.

Wednesday’s encounter took place in Chipurbhatti area under the jurisdiction of Basaguda police station. An anti-Maoist operation was undertaken jointly by Basaguda District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and battalions 205 and 210 of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), officials said.

During the operation, they encountered Maoists from platoon number 10 of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoists).

The dead include Nagesh Punem, deputy commander of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) platoon 10, who had a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his arrest; his wife Vetti Soni with a reward of Rs 2 lakh; and Kovasi Gangi, an area committee member with a Rs 5 lakh reward.

The Maoist affected Bastar Lok Sabha seat will go to polls on April 19. The remaining 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state will go to polls in two phases on April 26 and May 7.