The bodies of five missing personnel of the elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (Cobra) were discovered on Saturday in the forests where the force launched a major strike against the Naxalites.

In all, six Cobra personnel suffered the fatality during the operation “green hunt” launched near Palachalam in Dantewada district in which at least 24 Naxalites were killed. The body of assistant commandant Manoranjan Singh was found on Friday.

This is the first and biggest casualty of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)’s elite Cobra since the special unit was raised in August 2008 to fight the Naxalites. The union government had raised 10 battalions of the unit.

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First Published: Sep 21 2009 | 12:16 AM IST

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