Commando injured in Naxal encounter in C'garh dies

Raipur, Aug 18: A District Reserve Group (DRG) commando who was critically injured in a fierce encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, today died at a private hospital here. Constable Aditya Pratap Tanwar (25), posted with DRG in Dantewada district died at around 8 AM at Ramkrishna Care Hospital here, a police official told PTI.

His body was sent to his native place Pali in Korba district where he will be cremated with full honours, the official added. The jawan had sustained three bullet injuries in his stomach in the gun-battle with ultras that took place in the restive Dabba-Kunna hills under Katekalyan police station limits yesterday.

Four ultras, including a 'commander-rank' woman cadre, were also gunned down in the skirmish. The operation was jointly launched by a team of CRPF, DRG and STF based on specific inputs about presence of ultras in the forests near Dabba and Kunna villages, located on top of a hill which lies along the Dantewada and Sukma districts border, about 500 kms from here.

Lauding the bravery of the martyred jawan, Station House Officer (SHO) of Katekalyan Police station Vijay Patel said, Aditya, armed with Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), most of the time led the patrolling party from the front during their operations in the area.

Being a member of DRG, a locally raised specialised force to counter left-wing extremism, Aditya had face off with ultras many a time and every time he successfully thwarted the Maoists, the SHO said. He had joined Chhattisgarh Police in 2008.

During yesterday's operation also Aditya was in the lead position, carrying UBGL, when security forces spotted a Naxal hideout in the forests close to Dabba village, he said. On sensing security personnel, rebels opened indiscriminate fire on them following which Aditya immediately launched retaliatory action which was equally matched by his other colleagues, the SHO said.

According to his colleagues, Aditya's timely action caused maximum damage to ultras' camp giving them no opportunity to dominate further, said the officer.

PTI