24 Maoists killed in Green Hunt

At least 24 Maoists and an assistant commandant of the elite anti-Naxal force CoBRA were killed in a massive operation against the rebels in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Friday.

The operation, code-named Green Hunt, was launched after intelligence inputs that the Maoists had set up an arms factory near Krishnarampur. Close to 800 CoBRA and CRPF personnel, and two helicopters were pressed into action.

While there is no clear information on the number of Maoists killed, Orissa police sources claim at least 30 fatalities. Reuters, quoting Giridhar Nayak, additional director-general of police, Chhattisgarh, put the number at 24. The forces suffered one fatality; 10 CRPF jawans are missing. Bodies of seven Maoists have been found.

Sanjeeb Marik, IG (operations), Orissa, said border districts in the state have been put on high alert after the operation was launched. “There are chances that they will sneak into Orissa,” he said.

The CRPF and Maoists are also engaged in a fierce battle in Malkanagiri district, about 550 km from Bhubaneswar.
 —With inputs from agencies