5 security personnel killed in encounter with Maoists in India
"Maoists have also been killed; they have suffered substantial loss,"
Five security personnel were killed and a few others were wounded in the line of duty in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur in India.
Ashok Juneja, a senior state officer said, "five security personnel died in the line of duty. Maoists have also been killed; they have suffered substantial loss," reports NDTV.
When the gun battle broke out in the district's Tarrem sector, security personnel from the CRPF's elite CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit, the District Reserve Guard (DRG), and the Special Task Force (STF) were out carrying out anti-Maoist operations.
"The encounter broke out in Tarrem area (along Sukma and Bijapur border) when a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Naxal (Maoist) operation," Chhattisgarh Director General of Police DM Awasthi said.
"As per the preliminary information, five jawans were killed and a few others were injured in the gunfight," he added.
This comes day after five police personnel were killed and 14 injured after Maoists targeted a bus.
The bus, which had been travelling between Kadenar and Kanhargaon, was hit by an IED (improvised explosive device).
The encounter is still underway. More to follow...
