At least 26 Naxalites killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh

In Chhattisgarh, more than 26 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in the forests along the border of Narayanpur-Bijapur districts, officials said on Wednesday. A `supporter' of police was killed and a police jawan was injured in the gunfight, they said. The encounter took place in dense forests between Abhujmad and Indravati national park area when a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) of police from four districts was out on anti-Naxal operation, said deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma.
"More than 26 Naxalites, some of them probably top cadres, were killed. One supporter of the police was killed and a police jawan was injured in the action," said Sharma, who holds the home portfolio. The encounter between Naxalites and security forces has continued since this morning.
Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, Raman Singh, also commended the security forces for the successful operation. “I congratulate the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and State Home Minister Vijay Sharma for their leadership. Our forces carried out this operation in extreme temperatures of 40 to 42 degrees Celsius, and the people of Bastar have shown overwhelming support for peace and development,” Singh said.