Chhattisgarh: 4 BSF personnel killed, 2 injured in Kanker encounter
Four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were martyred while two others were injured on Thursday in a gunfight with Naxals in Chattisgarh's Kanker district, according to police. The encounter between the forces and Naxals broke out in a dense forest near Kanker's Mahla village. The gunfight took place when a team of the BSF's 114th Battalion was on a search operation. Here's more.
Reinforcements rushed to the site: Police official
"Four jawans of the 114th battalion of BSF died while 2 others sustained injuries in an encounter that broke out between the security forces and Naxals," said Deputy Inspector General (Anti-Naxal Operations), Sundarraj P. He added that reinforcements were rushed to the encounter site.
4 BSF jawans have lost their lives, tweeted ANI
#UPDATE : 4 BSF jawans have lost their lives in an encounter with Maoists in Kanker, Chhattisgarh https://t.co/zs8K25iF87
— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019
Evauation and search operations underway; Naxals also suffered casualties
DIG P Sundarraj also said that while the exchange of fire between the forces and Naxals has stopped, the evacuation and search operations were underway; the area has been cordoned off. According to sources, the encounter took place at around 11:45 am after the BSF troops were targeted by Naxals with fire and IEDs. The Naxals have also suffered casualties, the sources added.
Deeply anguished over loss of BSF personnel's lives: Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted he was "deeply anguished" over the loss of BSF jawans' lives. "Deeply anguished over the loss of @BSF_India personnel during an operation against the Naxals in Kanker. They fought valiantly before laying down their lives for the nation. My deepest condolences to the families of these martyrs and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured," he tweeted.
Director General of BSF apprises Rajnath Singh of the operation
Rajnath Singh also tweeted that he spoke to the Director General (DG) of the BSF about the Kanker encounter. "I have spoken to DG @BSF_India regarding the encounter in Kanker. He has apprised me of the operation. He will be leaving for Chhattisgarh to help the families of martyred BSF soldiers and also assess the ground situation," he wrote on Twitter.
Here's what the Union Home Minister tweeted
I have spoken to DG @BSF_India regarding the encounter in Kanker. He has apprised me of the operation. He will be leaving for Chhattisgarh to help the families of martyred BSF soldiers and also assess the ground situation.
— Chowkidar Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 4, 2019
LS polls in Kanker to be held on 18 April
Elections in the Kanker Lok Sabha constituency, along with Mahasamund and Rajnandgaon constituencies, are scheduled to be held on 18 April under the General Election's second phase. LS polls would be held in three phases, on 11 April, 18 April, and 23 April, in Chhattisgarh.
