5 STF jawans injured in Sukma in a Maoist scuttle

There are approximately 4000 Naxals in Bastar who are aided by 10,000 to 12,000 militia.

Of these there are at least 200-250 area commanders who travel between states for co-ordinating activities, gathering funds etc.

The main commanders, forces are looking for, include south Bastar divisional commander Raghu, head of Jagargunda area committee Papa Rao, and commander of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army Hidma.

On 24th April, one of the deadliest attacks by Maoist rebels claimed lives of 25 CRPF personnel.

99 personnel were deployed to assist with the construction of a road, when they were ambushed by 300-400 leftist insurgents.

According to the statement issued by CRPF, "tell-tale" signs from the ground indicated that a considerable number of Maoists, too, were exterminated in the gun battle.

In response to the deadly Sukma attack that killed 25 CRPF jawans, the Centre has given security forces a hit-list of the top leadership of the Naxalite movement.

They said the aim was to break the morale of the Naxals by taking out leaders like Raghu, Papa Rao, and Hidma.

It is unclear when the forces would begin their operations.

Sources stated that government is mobilizing over 2000 CoBRA commandos for deployment in Bastar to eliminate the Maoists in the region.

The move comes in the wake of some of the deadliest ambushes on Indian paramilitary personnel in recent months, which took place in Sukma in South Bastar.

Government sources said they sought to "deliver heavy blow to the Maoists operations."

5 people of the special task force (STF) were injured in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh's Sukma district in a fierce gunbattle with Maoists.

The encounter is still underway between the joint team of security forces and ultras.

The encounter ensued when team members were sealing off a forest patch in Chintagufa when the Naxal group attacked the security officials.