SAA event in Chhattisgarh, Kesamundi in Bijapur area, India on Sat 22nd July 2023

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre was killed in an encounter with Security Force (SF) personnel during an anti-Naxalite [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] operation at a hill forest area near Kesamundi village under the Bhairamgarh Police Station in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on July 22, reports The Print. Acting on specific inputs about the presence of 10-15 armed Maoists of the Bhairamgarh Area Committee in the forests of Potenar-Kesamundi villages, personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)’s 222nd battalion launched the operation, a Police official said. When the patrolling team was cordoning off the area in the morning, an exchange of fire broke out between the two sides that lasted for about half an hour, the official added. After the fire exchange stopped, the body of a Naxalite was found at the spot. SF personnel also recovered a pistol, bullets, gelatin sticks, wires, and other Maoist-related materials from the spot. The identity of the killed Maoist is yet to be ascertained.