Three Naxals killed in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: Three Naxals — a couple and another woman — were today killed and three policemen were injured in separate incidents in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region since Friday night.
A Maoist couple was gunned down in an encounter at around 2:50 am between the security forces and ultras in the jungles under Gangaloor police station area of Bijapur district, Bijapur Additional Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela told PTI.
They were identified as LOS (local organisation squad) commander of Darbha division Manoj Hapka, his wife Tati Hapka who was a member of the same squad.
The operation involving personnel of 85th battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 204th battalion of CRPF’s elite unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and Gangaloor police had been launched last night, he said.
The Naxals fired on the joint team when the forces were carrying out a search in the jungles of Kotter-Kerenar near the CRPF’s camp at Reddy village, around 450 km from Raipur.
As the jawans retaliated, the Naxals fled, said the ASP, adding that bodies of the couple, both in uniform, two muzzle- loading guns, a revolver and items of daily use were recovered from the spot later.
In another incident which took place in Bijapur’s Mirtur police station area (which is close to Gangaloor), Naxals fired and hurled bombs at a camp of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) at Cherli in the wee hours, leaving three personnel with minor injuries.
A company of CAF’s 10th battalion was stationed in the camp. Naxals fled as the jawans retaliated. (PTI)