By IANS,
Raipur: In an overnight operation, joint team of district police and CRPF destroyed a Maoist hideout located in the dense forest after a gunfight in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district and recovered arms and ammunition, officials said Tuesday.
The hideout was located in the dense forest of Mardakalan, 40 km away from district headquarters Gariaband, police sources said. Mardakalan is 270 km from the state capital Raipur.
“Maoist ultras numbering 12 to 15 attacked the joint team of district police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) which was on way to Mardakalan to conduct search operation,” Gariaband Superintendent of Police (SP) Ramgopal Garg told IANS.
“The encounter lasted for nearly two hours during which the security forces fired 210 rounds while from the insurgents’ side 60-70 rounds were fired. The Maoist rebels later vanished into the forests taking advantage of darkness,” he said.
Confirming the operation, Superintendent of CRPF 65th Battalion S.K. Singh told IANS: “At least three insurgents were grievously injured in the encounter that took place between security forces and Maoist ultras in the jungles of Mardakalan.”
After searching the area the security forces recovered two 12-bore guns, 20 pieces of detonators, two powerful tiffin bombs, empty magazines of ammunition, medicines, Maoist literature, and commando uniforms from the site, an official said.