<p>Two Naxals, one of them carrying a reward on his head, were on Saturday gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said.</p>

<p>The gun battle broke out at around 12:30 pm in the forest of Mankapal village under Gadiras police station area when a team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on a counter-insurgency operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI.</p>

<p>The operation was launched on a specific input about the presence ultras, he said. After a brief exchange of fire, the ultras fled into the dense forest, he said. During search, police recovered bodies of two male ultras, he added.</p>

<p>They are identified as Gundadhur, an LGS (local guerrilla squad) commander of Malangir area committee of Maoists, and Aaytu who was a security guard of a senior cadre Vinod (a divisional committee member), the IG said.</p>

<p>Gundadhur was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, he said. Further details are awaited, he added.</p>


Two Naxals, one of them carrying a reward on his head, were on Saturday gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said.

Two Naxals, one of them carrying a reward on his head, were on Saturday gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said. The gun battle broke out at around 12:30 pm in the forest of Mankapal village under Gadiras police station area when a team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on a counter-insurgency operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI. The operation was launched on a specific input about the presence ultras, he said. After a brief exchange of fire, the ultras fled into the dense forest, he said. During search, police recovered bodies of two male ultras, he added. They are identified as Gundadhur, an LGS (local guerrilla squad) commander of Malangir area committee of Maoists, and Aaytu who was a security guard of a senior cadre Vinod (a divisional committee member), the IG said. Gundadhur was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, he said. Further details are awaited, he added.

Two naxals killed in encounter with police in Chhattisgarh

<p>Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, the worst Naxal-hit place in the country, is likely to hold the key to the Assembly poll outcome, with the BJP pulling out all stops to reverse its fortunes here, as the Congress had got the better of it in 2013.</p>

<p>BJP president Amit Shah, during his frequent visits to the state, including to Bastar division headquarters Jagdalpur on Saturday, has asked party workers to ensure that the Congress is routed in the region on the back of the state government's "development works" and fall in Naxal violence.</p>

<p>Of the 12 Assembly seats in Bastar, the Congress had won eight in 2013 and the BJP managed to edge out the opposition in the overall tally. This was possible on the back of the BJP's strong performance in the plains, helped to no small extent by the Narendra Modi factor.</p>

<p>PM Modi, who was then the party's prime ministerial candidate, had campaigned extensively in the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls.</p>

<p>BJP sources noted that in the last Assembly elections, the difference in vote share of their party and that of the Congress was less than one per cent, as they underlined the importance of the tribal-dominated region, which has often given either of the two main parties a decisive mandate.</p>

<p>In 2008, the BJP had emerged victorious in 11 of the 12 seats in Bastar. It had won 50 seats in the 90-member state assembly. The Congress had won 38 and received about 1.7 per cent less vote than the saffron party.</p>

<p>Though the BJP has been in power in Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years, the opposition Congress has been bridging the gap with the ruling party in terms of popular support.</p>

<p>The BJP received 39.26 per cent, 44.33 per cent and 41 per cent votes in 2003, 2008 and 2013 polls respectively. The Congress had got 36.71 per cent, 38.63 per cent and 40.3 per cent votes in those Assembly elections.</p>

<p>Chief Minister Raman Singh has been at the helm since 2003.</p>

<p>Opinion polls held in the state have predicted yet another close fight between the two traditional rivals with some giving edge to the Congress and others to the BJP.</p>

<p>Shah has been visiting the state frequently, holding meetings with party leaders and workers and addressing public meetings.</p>

<p>While Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 12 and 20, the Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram Assembly elections will be held on November 28.</p>

<p>Polling in Rajasthan and Telangana will be held on December 7 and the counting of votes will be held across all the five states on December 11.</p>

<p>With the Lok Sabha polls due to be held barely four months after the results of assembly elections in the five states, their outcome is bound to be a factor in the campaign for the general elections.</p>


Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, the worst Naxal-hit place in the country, is likely to hold the key to the Assembly poll outcome, with the BJP pulling out all stops to reverse its fortunes here, as the Congress had got the better of it in 2013.

Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, the worst Naxal-hit place in the country, is likely to hold the key to the Assembly poll outcome, with the BJP pulling out all stops to reverse its fortunes here, as the Congress had got the better of it in 2013. BJP president Amit Shah, during his frequent visits to the state, including to Bastar division headquarters Jagdalpur on Saturday, has asked party workers to ensure that the Congress is routed in the region on the back of the state government's "development works" and fall in Naxal violence. Of the 12 Assembly seats in Bastar, the Congress had won eight in 2013 and the BJP managed to edge out the opposition in the overall tally. This was possible on the back of the BJP's strong performance in the plains, helped to no small extent by the Narendra Modi factor. PM Modi, who was then the party's prime ministerial candidate, had campaigned extensively in the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls. BJP sources noted that in the last Assembly elections, the difference in vote share of their party and that of the Congress was less than one per cent, as they underlined the importance of the tribal-dominated region, which has often given either of the two main parties a decisive mandate. In 2008, the BJP had emerged victorious in 11 of the 12 seats in Bastar. It had won 50 seats in the 90-member state assembly. The Congress had won 38 and received about 1.7 per cent less vote than the saffron party. Though the BJP has been in power in Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years, the opposition Congress has been bridging the gap with the ruling party in terms of popular support. The BJP received 39.26 per cent, 44.33 per cent and 41 per cent votes in 2003, 2008 and 2013 polls respectively. The Congress had got 36.71 per cent, 38.63 per cent and 40.3 per cent votes in those Assembly elections. Chief Minister Raman Singh has been at the helm since 2003. Opinion polls held in the state have predicted yet another close fight between the two traditional rivals with some giving edge to the Congress and others to the BJP. Shah has been visiting the state frequently, holding meetings with party leaders and workers and addressing public meetings. While Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 12 and 20, the Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram Assembly elections will be held on November 28. Polling in Rajasthan and Telangana will be held on December 7 and the counting of votes will be held across all the five states on December 11. With the Lok Sabha polls due to be held barely four months after the results of assembly elections in the five states, their outcome is bound to be a factor in the campaign for the general elections.

Naxal-hit Bastar region key to Chhattisgarh poll outcome: Report

<p>Twelve Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers&nbsp;were killed on Saturday&nbsp;when Naxals ambushed a road opening party of the security forces in Maoist-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said.</p>

<p>Five jawans were also injured in the attack that took place in the dense forests of Bhejji police station limits at 9:15 am when a patrol party of CRPF&#39;s 219 battalion was out for a road opening task near Kotacheru village.</p>

<p>The Bhejji area in south Bastar region of the state is notorious for Naxal attacks and many security personnel have been killed there&nbsp;in the past. It is considered as the last bastion of the Naxals&nbsp;as the area sits right on the tri-junction of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.</p>

<p>The Naxals looted ten weapons, including six INSAS rifles, four AK-47s, a light machine gun, 1,587 bullet rounds, an under-barrel grenade launcher, a 51mm mortar, two para bombs and two radio sets, officials said.</p>

<p>India&#39;s home minister Rajnath Singh arrived in&nbsp;Chhattisgarh and paid tributes to the fallen soldiers, along with&nbsp;Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh. He called the attack a cowardly act and said the Naxals had executed the attack as a&nbsp;result of their frustration.</p>

<p>&quot;Naxal attack on CRPF men in Sukma cowardly act. Sacrifices of the personnel won&#39;t go in vain,&quot; Rajnath Singh told PTI.</p>

<p>&quot;Naxals on the backfoot and executed this attack in frustration,&quot; added the home minister.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Decided that total compensation to kin of martyred jawans shouldn&#39;t be less than Rs 1 Cr under any circumstances: HM on Sukma Maoist attack <a href="https://t.co/S2NY6mnJsW">pic.twitter.com/S2NY6mnJsW</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/840591880572325888">March 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>PM Modi spoke&nbsp;to Rajnath Singh almost immediately on the situation in Sukma. He later&nbsp;offered condolences to the families of CRPF personnel killed in the Sukma Naxal attack.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Saddened by the killing of CRPF personnel in Sukma. Tributes to the martyrs &amp; condolences to their families. May the injured recover quickly</p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/840457393666437120">March 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Spoke to Home Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh">@rajnathsingh</a> Ji on the situation in Sukma. He is going to Sukma to take stock of the situation.</p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/840457619269668864">March 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chhattisgarh: Locals in Sukma pay homage to the 12 CRPF personnel who lost their lives in Maoist attack that took place today. <a href="https://t.co/MH52AKDtbj">pic.twitter.com/MH52AKDtbj</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/840563290610663424">March 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>(WION)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Police officials said the attack occurred in Sukma?district of Chhattisgarh

Twelve Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers were killed on Saturday when Naxals ambushed a road opening party of the security forces in Maoist-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said. Five jawans were also injured in the attack that took place in the dense forests of Bhejji police station limits at 9:15 am when a patrol party of CRPF's 219 battalion was out for a road opening task near Kotacheru village. The Bhejji area in south Bastar region of the state is notorious for Naxal attacks and many security personnel have been killed there in the past. It is considered as the last bastion of the Naxals as the area sits right on the tri-junction of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The Naxals looted ten weapons, including six INSAS rifles, four AK-47s, a light machine gun, 1,587 bullet rounds, an under-barrel grenade launcher, a 51mm mortar, two para bombs and two radio sets, officials said. India's home minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Chhattisgarh and paid tributes to the fallen soldiers, along with Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh. He called the attack a cowardly act and said the Naxals had executed the attack as a result of their frustration. "Naxal attack on CRPF men in Sukma cowardly act. Sacrifices of the personnel won't go in vain," Rajnath Singh told PTI. "Naxals on the backfoot and executed this attack in frustration," added the home minister. Decided that total compensation to kin of martyred jawans shouldn't be less than Rs 1 Cr under any circumstances: HM on Sukma Maoist attack pic.twitter.com/S2NY6mnJsW — ANI (@ANI_news) March 11, 2017 × PM Modi spoke to Rajnath Singh almost immediately on the situation in Sukma. He later offered condolences to the families of CRPF personnel killed in the Sukma Naxal attack. Saddened by the killing of CRPF personnel in Sukma. Tributes to the martyrs & condolences to their families. May the injured recover quickly — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 11, 2017 × Spoke to Home Minister @rajnathsingh Ji on the situation in Sukma. He is going to Sukma to take stock of the situation. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 11, 2017 × Chhattisgarh: Locals in Sukma pay homage to the 12 CRPF personnel who lost their lives in Maoist attack that took place today. pic.twitter.com/MH52AKDtbj — ANI (@ANI_news) March 11, 2017 × (WION)

12 CRPF soldiers killed in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh, Rajnath Singh pays tribute