3 Jawans Martyred, 15 Injured in Maoist Attack in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur

Three jawans were martyred while 14 others sustained injuries in a Maoist attack on a police camp located in Tekalgudem of the Bijapur district in southern Chhattisgarh.

The injured Army personnel were swiftly airlifted to Jagdalpur before being transferred to Raipur for further medical care. Among the injured, the condition of one is reported to be critical.

A joint team comprising security personnel from CRPF’s Cobra, STF, and DRG was conducting search operations in the Jonaguda-Aliguda area when they encountered Maoists.

While three of the jawans lost their lives in the encounter, the injured received immediate medical attention at the Silger camp in Bijapur before being airlifted to Raipur for advanced treatment.

The injured personnel are undergoing treatment at Jagdalpur Medical College, Narayana Hospital Raipur, and Balaji Hospital Raipur.

List of Martyred Personnel

1. Constable Devan S., 201 CobraConstable 2. Pavan Kumar, 201 CobraConstable

3. Lambodhar Sinha, 150 CRPF

List of Injured Personnel

1. Lakhwir, Deputy Commander, 201 Cobra

2. Rajesh Panchal, Assistant Commander, 201 Cobra

3. Khedkar Ramdas, Head Constable, 201 Cobra

4. Akhilesh Yadav, Head Constable, 201 Cobra

5. Harendra Singh, Head Constable, 201 Cobra

6. Mohammad Irfan, Head Constable, 201 Cobra

7. Gopinath Basumatadi, Constable, 201 Cobra

8. Manoj Nath, Constable, 201 Cobra

9. Vikas Kumar, Constable, 201 Cobra

10. Benudhar Sahu, Constable, 201 Cobra

11. T. Madhukumar, Constable, 201 Cobra

12. Malkit Singh, Constable, 201 Cobra

13. E. Venkatesh, Constable, 201 Cobra

14. Avinash Sharma, Constable, 201 Cobra

15. Rout Omprakash, Constable, 201 Cobra

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed his deep condolences to the families of the three jawans who lost their lives in the Maoists attack. Recognising the valour and sacrifice of the martyred soldiers, he emphasised the importance of providing the highest quality medical care to the injured jawans.

Stressing the government’s resolve to enhance security measures, he announced plans for the establishment of new camps aimed at curbing insurgent activities effectively. Sai reiterated the state’s unwavering support for the security forces and pledged to continue the relentless battle against Maoists. He assured the affected families of the government’s steadfast solidarity during this challenging time.

It is may be recalled here that in 2021, 23 jawans were martyred in a Maoist ambush at the same location.

Confirming the incident, the Bastar police revealed that on Tuesday, a joint team of Cobra/STF/DRG was conducting search operations in the Jonaguda-Aliguda area. Between 3 to 4 PM, Maoists opened fire on the team, prompting a strong retaliation from the security forces. The police asserted that the Maoists suffered heavy losses as a result of the robust response. Despite encountering substantial resistance, the Maoists managed to evade capture and disappeared into the dense jungle.

As per the available information, a new police camp was established in Tekalgudem on Tuesday. The security personnel were conducting search operations in the Jonaguda-Aliguda area following the camp’s setup. During this operation, the Maoists, who had previously inflicted casualties on the security forces, initiated gunfire on the personnel, resulting injuries to several security personnel. In the ensuing exchange, three personnel succumbed to their injuries, while some sustained severe wounds. Helicopters have been deployed to evacuate the injured personnel to Raipur for advanced medical treatment.

IG Bastar Sunderraj P stated that the police are actively establishing new camps in core Maoist areas to bolster security. The same area in Tekalgudem, located at the border of Sukma and Bijapur district, was previously targeted by Maoists in 2021, resulting in the loss of 23 personnel. Since then, the police have been formulating strategies to diminish Maoist influence in the region by consistently setting up new camps. On Tuesday despite the intense confrontation, the Maoists managed to retreat into the dense jungle he said.

The situation remained tense in the region as security forces intensified efforts to neutralise Maoist threats and maintain stability and peace in this area in southern Chhattisgarh.