23 securitymen still missing after encounter: Minister

Raipur, July 10 (UNI) As many as 23 security personnel, including 15 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans, were still missing after an encounter with the Maoist rebels in the forest near Errabore in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, the government told the Assembly today.

Making a suo moto statement in the assembly about the incident, Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam said 55th CRPF battalion's 'F' company, led by Assistant Commandant Vijay Kumar, had rushed to the forest near Maraiguda following a tip-off about a naxalite camp at about 0630 hours yesterday.

The security personnel, comprising 115 members, raided the naxalite camp and detained few sangam members-- village level supporters of the Maoists-- who informed the security forces about another rebel camp about three Kms away. As the security personnel rushed there, armed Maoist rebels, about 300 in number, unleashed an attack on them, leading to a fierce encounter.

Mr Netam said the encounter continued and the security personnel and the special police officers (SPOs) put up stiff resistance. As few SPOs and other security personnel were injured in the gun battle, they were brought back to Errabore and another team of security personnel were sent to assist the forces.

The minister said 15 CRPF personnel, six special police officers and two personnel of the district police, were still missing and a massive search operation was going on in the forests. A helicopter has been sent from state capital to assist the police teams engaged in search operations.

Mr Netam lauded the courage of security personnel in storming the Maoist camp in the rebel stronghold saying that it would boost the morale of the security forces.

UNI