4 Maoists shot dead in Gangaloor area rocked by murder of tribals and cops | Left wing Extremism

RAIPUR: Security forces have gunned down four Maoists in a two-day-long operation in Gangaloor area of Bijapur, where the insurgents have murdered over a dozen people, including four cops, in around five weeks.
One Maoist body has been recovered, and the other three were dragged away by their colleagues, said police.

In one of the biggest operations in recent months, some 450 security personnel — including CoBRA commandos, DRG, STF and CRPF — set out on Sunday on intelligence inputs about the movement of 120 Maoists of PLGA’s 2 company of West Bastar Division Committee secretary Papa Rao.
“The operation was in the forests neighbouring Dantewada and Bijapur districts. A gunbattle broke out around 9.30am when security personnel were advancing towards Pedapal and Pidiya villages in Gangaloor region. After 15-20 minutes, the Maoists retreated into the jungle,” IG Sundarraj said.

Security forces found a dead Maoist, yet unidentified, and signs that three to four others were killed. An Insas rifle, explosives and a large supply of medicines were found. No security personnel was injured. Sundarraj said the body of the Maoist will be shown to surrendered cadres and locals for identification.
Police say small encounters have broken out in the forests of Tumnar, Pidiya, Pedapal and Irenar regions, about 450km from Raipur. Police are trying to get information on slain or injured Maoists from nearby villages.
This is the first major counterstrike in Bijapur after a string of murders of tribals and policemen by Maoists. The Gangaloor Area Committee has claimed responsibility for most of these random killings where Maoists brand just about anyone a police informer and kill them in particularly brutal ways to strike terror.

 

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/4-maoists-shot-dead-in-gangaloor-area-rocked-by-murder-of-tribals-and-cops/articleshow/78379349.cms