Hardcore naxal arrested in Chhattisgarh

A hardcore naxal commander was today arrested after he was injured in an encounter between Maoists and security personnel in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Kanker district, police said.
The face-off took place near Ghumsimunda forests under Antagarh police station limits when a joint squad of 123 battalion of BSF (Border Security Force), Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and district force were on a combing operation in the region, Kanker Superintendent of Police R N Dash told PTI.
Sensing securitymen near restive Ghumsimunda village forests, a large group of ultras opened indiscriminate firing on them following which they launched a retaliatory attack.
After the ensuing gunfight that lasted for around an hour, rebels escaped into core forests, he said.

"Several naxals sustained bullet injuries in the gunfight but their colleagues managed to drag them inside the dense forests. However, one of them was held and an AK-47 rifle was also seized from his possession," the SP said.
The arrested outlaw has been identified as Jairam, a commander ranking cadre, the SP said adding he was shifted to a local hospital for treatment.

Soon after the incident, additional security forces were rushed to the spot and further details are awaited, he added.
In another search operation, a naxal was held along with materials used for making explosives in Kanker district last evening even as security personnel destroyed a Maoist memorial in the Amabeda police station limits there.

Iron pellets, rods, and other different materials used in making IEDs (improvised explosive device) was recovered from the possession of the cadre- Laki Negi- who was rounded up from Kuvemari village forests in the district, the SP said.