Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], December 13 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma on Thursday reported significant progress in combating Naxalites, stating that actions are taken based on credible information. He said that in the last five years, 219 Naxalites were killed, and this year alone, 220 have been eliminated. Additionally, seven Naxalites were killed in an ongoing encounter.

'Today, action is taken on the basis of information... In the last 5 years, 219 Naxalites were killed and this year 220 Naxalites have been killed... 7 Naxalites have been killed in the encounter and the encounter is still going on,' he said.

Earlier on Thursday, in a joint anti-Naxal operation involving DRG, CRPF, and STF, seven Naxalites were neutralized in intermittent encounters between the security forces and Naxalites. The bodies of seven uniformed Naxalites have been recovered during the search operation.

A joint anti-Naxal operation involving DRG, CRPF, and STF from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Jagdalpur, and Kondagaon districts commenced on December 10, targeting South Abujhmad. According to Bastar Police, an exchange of fire between security forces and Naxalites has been underway since 3 am in the forest of Southern Abujhmad on the Dantewada-Narayanpur border.

'Exchange of fire between security forces and Naxalites underway since 3 am in the forest of Southern Abujhmad on Dantewada Narayanpur border,' Bastar Police said.

IG Bastar P Sundarraj said that the search operation is still underway, and detailed information will be shared after its conclusion.

Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai also lauded the security forces' efforts.

'An anti-Naxal operation was going on in which our security forces succeeded in killing 7 Naxalites. I salute their courage...,' he said.

A Naxal was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district earlier on Wednesday. Bijapur SP Jitendra Yadav said that two District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel were injured after a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in the area.   

(ANI)