Amit Shah warns of retaliation against Maoists

Twenty-two security personnel were killed in a gun battle with the Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Home Minister Amit Shah has warned of retaliation against the Maoists.

More than 2,000 soldiers belonging to various groups, including CRPF soldiers and special operations teams, were on joint patrol on Friday night in the southern Bastar area on the Maoist-dominated Sukma, Bijapur district border in Chhattisgarh.

Simultaneous action tests were conducted at 5 locations including Narasapuram and Minba. In this, the Maoists indiscriminately opened fire on security forces passing near the jonaguda forest in the Tarrem area. About 400 Maoists, led by Maoist commander Hitma, are said to have surrounded and attacked on all three sides.

Security forces immediately launched a counter-attack. Five security forces personnel were killed in the clash which lasted for 5 hours. Under the circumstances, the search revealed that several soldiers involved in the hunt had gone missing. Subsequently, additional troops were sent to the forest to expedite the search. In it, the bodies of successive security forces soldiers were found from the forest.

The bodies of 22 soldiers were recovered as of Sunday evening. Thirty-two people recovered with injuries and were admitted to hospitals. As well as the search for a missing player continued. Only the body of a female Maoist was recovered after reports emerged that the security forces had inflicted heavy casualties on the Maoists.

President Ramnath Govind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have said that the sacrifices of the security forces will be remembered.

Home Minister Amit Shah has posted on his Twitter page that action against enemies of peace and development will continue. Moreover, Amit Shah, who returned to Delhi after canceling his election campaign in Assam, has assured that the Maoists will be retaliated against in due course.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupathi Bagal has returned to Raipur after completing his election campaign in Assam. Home Minister Amit Shah contacted him on the phone and inquired about the field situation.

Further, CRPF Brigade Director Kuldeep Singh personally inspected the scene of the attack. In April 2017, 26 soldiers were killed in an attack by the Maoists in Sukma district.

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