In a prelude to the first phase of the national elections set for April 19th in India, a fierce clash emerged between police forces and Naxalite insurgents in Kanker, Chhattisgarh. In the gunfight that escalated, reports indicate that three police officers sustained injuries.
The firefight in the Bethiya police station jurisdiction within the Maad area persists, with reinforcements dispatched to extract the wounded officers from the dense jungle.
18 neutralized, operation ongoing
Police Superintendent Kalyan Elesela has confirmed 18 Naxalites have been killed in the encounter. Notably, a high-profile Naxalite commander, Shankar Rao, with a 25-lakh bounty on his head, was among the deceased. Seven AK47 rifles, one INSAS rifle, and three LMGs have also been seized.
BSF Team on Anti-Naxal Mission
According to the news agency PTI, a senior police officer revealed that the gunfire commenced when a joint team of Border Security Force (BSF) and District Reserve Guard (DRG) embarked on an anti-Naxalite operation. During the exchange, three security personnel were injured.
The State's 14 Districts Under Naxal Influence
With 14 of its districts under Maoist influence, Chhattisgarh stands as the second-most Naxal affected state in India. Data from the Ministry of Home Affairs indicate these districts, which include Balrampur, Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, are consistent hotspots for such encounters.
Over 300 Naxal Attacks in a Year
Earlier last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs presented figures in the Lok Sabha, stating that Chhattisgarh witnessed 305 Naxalite attacks in 2022. An alarming statistic revealed an average of more than 300 such insurgencies each year, resulting in approximately 45 casualties among security forces annually.
Elections Ahead amidst Tensions
Voting in Kanker, strategically situated between Raipur and Jagdalpur within the Kanker parliamentary constituency, is due in the second phase on April 26th. This constituency incorporates eight assembly seats, largely reserved for Scheduled Tribes, highlighting the region's critical socio-political landscape.
