Three policemen and two Maoists were killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Sunday. The encounter took place early in the morning near Ponjed at Mirjur in Gangalur police station area where a team of STF and district police force was coducting an anti-Maoist operation. STF constable Sitaram Kunjam and assistant constable of the district force Moti Ram were killed on the spot. Another constable Payku Ram Poyam succumbed to his injuries while he was being taken to Jagdalpur. Among the Maoist killed was a senior guerilla fighter Hemla Masa alias Vijay, commander of Company 2 of West Bastar Division of CPI (Maoist). R K Vij, ADG (Naxal Ops), said: “Fifteen rounds of AK-47, nine shells of Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, a 12 bore rifle and a wireless set were recovered from him.” R K Vij, ADG (Naxal Ops), said: “Fifteen rounds of AK-47, nine shells of Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, a 12 bore rifle and a wireless set were recovered from him.” Speaking on rebel presence in the area, Vij said the area was “highly-affected”. “Our team had gone for an operation when the Maoists opened fire at them. Our jawans retaliated. We have recovered bodies of two uniformed Maoists,” he added. [related-post] The STF, which is specially trained for anti-Maoist operations, has faced its maximum casualties this year. As many as 11 STF personnel have already been killed in 2015. Last month, the STF lost its seven men in Sukma’s Pidmel area. This year is turning out to be a difficult year for security forces fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh, with 30 casualties so far. The last three years have witnessed deaths of 62, 43 and 52 personnel, respectively. Considering that the death count this year does not include a single personnel from CRPF, precisely because it has almost stopped sending its men to distant areas for operations, the casualty list also becomes worrisome for the Chhattisgarh police.
