AMN

file photo

At least 14 security personnel are missing after the gun battle with Maoists in Sukma district of Bastar division in Chhattisgarh last evening. The encounter took place at Chintagufa area when the Maoists ambushed the security personnel.

The joint team of Central Reserve Police Force- CRPF, Special Task Force and District Reserve Guards was on an Anti- Maoist operation after the specific inputs of presence of a large number of ultras in the region.

Between Minpa and Kasalpad village, Maoists laid an ambush and opened indiscriminate fire upon the security team. Security personnel retaliated to the gunfire leading to an encounter. In this exchange of fire, 17 security personnel were injured. Out of which, 14 Jawans were airlifted to capital Raipur last evening. Condition of two injured security personnel is reported to be critical.

Police claimed that a large number of Maoists had also been killed in this encounter.

A team comprising of para-military CRPF, its elite commando wing CoBRA battalion, special task force and District Reserve Guards have ventured into the forests to trace the missing security personnel. An intensified search operation is going on in the forest of Chintagufa.