Raipur: Intermittent firing by Naxals has hampered a joint operation to evacuate CRPF's CoBRA unit personnel, including the injured, stuck in the forest, a day after multiple encounters with the ultras in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.
"Operation to retrieve the injured jawans is underway. Around 600 personnel (of CRPF and state force) have been pressed into service," Chhattisgarh's Special Director General of Police (Anti-Naxal Operations) D M Awasthi said.
"Intermittent firing by Naxals has hampered the operation to evacuate CoBRA jawans stuck in the forest and bring them to Kistaram police station. But they will be reaching the police station very soon," he said.
Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, S R P Kalluri and Sukma Superintendent of Police D Shravan are camping at Kistaram, about 500 km from Raipur, to monitor the rescue operation.
Officials said, two CRPF commandos were killed and at least 14 others including team leader and Commandant P S Yadav were injured in multiple encounters between security forces and Naxals yesterday in Chhattisgarh's worst Maoist violence-affected Sukma district.
The incident involves personnel of CRPF's exclusive jungle warfare unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), with the first encounter with Maoists occurring in the jungles of Dabbanarka of Sukma in Bastar area.
Officials said the men belonged to the 208th CoBRA battalion.
