With intel on high-ranked Moaist and cadres, here is how security forces executed its 11-hour-long encounter

In recent 11-hour encounter in a forest in Bijapur district’s Gangaloor region on Friday, at least a dozen Maoists were gunned down, taking the number of Maoists neutralized this year to 103, including 29 in a single operation in Kanker.

All the security personnel in Friday’s operation are safe, said officers, adding that automatic weapons, a grenade launcher and explosives have been recovered from the battle zone.

The bodies are being taken to a police camp for identification. An officer said that the toll may rise as the exact number of deaths will be known when separate teams of security personnel converge at a place.

How the planning of encounter started?
According to police, the operation was initiated based on specific intelligence about the presence of high-ranking Maoist commanders and over 150 cadres in the region. Over 1,000 security personnel, comprising CoBRA, Special Task Force, and District Reserve Guards units from multiple districts, set out from different camps in Bijapur, Dantewada, and Sukma districts at 6 am on Friday.

The forces moved together in a dense forest area near Pidiya village, approximately 40 km from Bijapur and 470 km south of Raipur. Police stated that the Maoists initiated the gunfire, prompting the security forces to retaliate. Gunfights erupted at various locations in the forest for 11 hours as the forces pursued the Maoists, with the combat continuing even after nightfall.

Dantewada SP Gaurav Rai confirmed on Friday night that the bodies of 12 Maoists had been discovered at the encounter site. Police had received intelligence about the presence of key Maoist figures such as Western Bastar division special zonal committee member Pap Rao, Darbha division SZC Chaiti, PLGA company number 2 commander Vella, Gangaloor area committee secretary of Platoon 12 Dinesh Modiyam, and over 150 cadres.Reacting to the encounter, Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai lauded the forces for the operation. “Since BJP has formed govt in Chhattisgarh, action against Maoists has intensified… Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Union home minister Amit Shah ji also wish that Naxalism should end. We are benefiting from the double-engine govt,” he added.Security forces have been on the offensive ever since the BJP govt took over last Dec. On April 16, 29 Maoists were gunned down in an encounter in Kanker district. A fortnight later, on May 1, 10 more Maoists were killed in Abujhmarh region of Narayanpur district in a 13-hour gunfight.

C M Vishnu Deo Sai said: “The encounter has ended in the forests of Pidiya and 12 bodies have been recovered. I congratulate the security forces engaged in the operation. Since BJP has formed the govt in Chhattisgarh, action against Maoists has intensified. Our PM Modi ji and Union home minister Amit Shah ji also wish that Naxalism should end. We are benefiting from the double-engine govt,” Sai said.

(With ToI inputs)