Police exchange fire with Naxals in Bastar; couple held

A gun battle took place between police and Naxals today in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district in which no casualties were reported while a Naxal couple, allegedly involved in an attack on BSF post in Kanker district earlier this week was arrested.
The encounter took place at Mudenar village under Paknar police limits this morning, Bastar Superintendent of Police Ajay Yadav told PTI.
Getting information that some lower-rung Naxals had called a meeting of villagers at Mudenar, security personnel had been sent to the area, located around 350 km from the state capital, the SP said.
As the police approached the village, Naxals opened fire and fled when the police retaliated. There was no casualty on either side, Yadav said.

Earlier in the day a Naxal couple wanted in connection with the gun-battle at Chhote Baithiya BSF post in Kanker district earlier this week was arrested.
Dasru Pungati alias Vikram (35) and his wife Nirmala (38) were apprehended from Burgi Pipili village in the neighbouring Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, Station House Officer of Bande police station Naresh Deshmukh said.

They were active in Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border area for the past several years and handling the Naxal activities in Bande area of Chhattisgarh, he said.
A jawan was killed when a group of ultras opened fire on BSF camp in Bande area on the night of April 12.

Preliminary investigation revealed the involvement of Dasru and his wife in the attack, and their whereabouts had been traced to Kasansur, following which a team of BSF and local police was dispatched there.
They were arrested with the help of Kasansur police and brought to Bande, Deshmukh said.