CRPF Commando Shot During Anti-Naxal Operation in Chhattisgarh

Commando of CoBRA unit of CRPF shot during anti-naxal op in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh and was rushed to hospital

CRPF manning a Naxal-affected area. (Photo Courtesy: YouTube screengrab/The Times of India)

Five CRPF commandos, including two officers, sustained bullet injuries during an anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh’s worst Maoist violence-affected Sukma district on Thursday.

Officials said the personnel of CRPF’s exclusive jungle warfare unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) sustained injuries after their patrol team engaged in an encounter with Maoists in the jungles of Dabbanarka of Sukma district in south Chhattisgarh at about 12:30 pm.

The injured were Commandant PS Yadav, Assistant Commandant Yogendra, Sub-Inspector Rajveer Singh, Head constable Santosh and Constable Sona Ram. While Singh was hit first in the exchange of fire, the others were injured in the later part of the operation.

They said the men belonged to the 208th CoBRA battalion and have been evacuated and sent to a hospital. Security forces personnel, including those from Central Reserve Police Force, CoBRA and state police, were combing the area, they said.

A chopper was pressed into service to evacuate them and reinforcement was rushed to the spot.