Two BSF jawans were killed and four others injured today in a gun-battle with naxals in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh, the second attack in as many days by the Left wing extremists.
The encounter occurred around 2:30 AM when the Naxals attacked a squad of BSF and district force which was undertaking a special operation in the interior forests of Bande police station area of the district, Kanker Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jayant Vaishnav told PTI.
“Two constables–Rakesh Nehra and Vijay Kumar– belonging to 122nd battalion of BSF succumbed to their injuries while being airlifted to Raipur. Four other injured have been
shifted to Raipur and admitted at Ramkrishna Care Hospital,” the DSP said.
A joint squad of BSF’s 117th and 122nd battalion along with district force had launched the operation from Chhotebethiya camp of BSF in Pakhanjore region, located around 300 kms away from the state capital.
When the security forces reached near a river in the dense forest of Becha village, Naxals opened indiscriminate fire on them leaving the six jawans injured, the DSP said, adding two of them succumbed to injuries.
The encounter lasted an hour and later the Naxals fled into the dense forests, he added.
Additional forces have been sent to the area, he said.
The attack came a day after a CRPF jawan was killed and four others, including two Deputy Commandants, were injured in an IED blast in Naxal-hit Sukma district.
According to police, the Naxals have put up posters calling for a one-day Bastar-bandh today in protest against the alleged fake encounter and surrender of tribals in the region.