Grenade event in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh area, India on Mon 27th February 2023

Four Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were shot dead in back-to-back encounters in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on February 27, reports The Times of India. Acting on intelligence inputs about the presence of a large group of 40–50 Maoists in Bade Tungali and Chhote Tungali villages under the Jangla Police Station area, a joint team of District Reserve Guards (DRG), Bastar Fighters, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was set to intercept the Maoists. The intel said there were some top Maoists in the group, including ‘platoon commander’ Prashant of West Bastar Division's Company No. 2, Matwada Local organisation squad (LOS) ‘commander’ Anil Punem and Bhairamgarh Area Janathana Sarkar (Peoples Government) ‘president’ ‘area committee member (ACM)’ Rajesh. The first gunfight broke out at 7 a.m. on February 27. The Maoists retreated after a fierce exchange of fire. The forces went in pursuit, and a second encounter erupted two hours later at 9.30 a.m. Bijapur Superintendent of Police (SP) Jitendra Kumar confirmed that the bodies of four Maoists, who are yet to be identified, have been recovered. Among the weapons seized are a barrel grenade launcher, a pistol, ammunition, tiffin bombs, 10 gelatin sticks, and 15-metre safety fuses. As many as 315 indigenous weapons, like knives and axes, were also found.