As many as 18 Maoists were killed in a joint counter-insurgency operation in Tondamarka area of Sukma district of Chhattisgarh between 23 June and 25 June, the police said. Tondamarka area, situated deep inside the forest under Chhintagufa police station limits, comes under the Red Corridor.
The counter-insurgency operation named ‘Prahaar’ was conducted by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and Special Task Force (STF) of Chhattisgarh Police and District Reserve Guard (DRG) of Chhattisgarh.
“We have received confirmed reports that 14 Maoists were gunned down in the exchange of fire with the security personnel during that operation, while another four injured cadres succumbed later,” Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena said.
All the slain Maoists, identified so far, belong to the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), local intelligence sources say.
While three DRG jawans were martyred during the counter-insurgency operation, six security personnel were injured.
Sukma district is situated near the tri-junction of three states — Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. It could be noted that the Maoists have inflicted maximum causalities on security forces in Sukma district.
The Maoists had killed 25 CRPF personnel in a deadly ambush in Burkapal area of Sukma district when the jawans were engaged in securing an under construction road. This was the second major attack by Maoists on a road opening CRPF party in the recent times. On 11 March, a similar attack in Bhejji area of Sukma had killed 12 CRPF personnel.