The Maoists haven’t raised any formal calls for for the discharge of the commando. (Representational)
Bijapur: The outlawed CPI (Maoist) has claimed that CoBRA commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, who went lacking after the April 3 ambush in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar area, is in captivity of ultras, and requested the state authorities to nominate interlocutors for his launch.
The Maoists have, nevertheless, not raised any formal calls for for the discharge of the commando.
Police are verifying the authenticity of the assertion, purportedly issued by the outlaws.
The banned outfit additionally admitted that 4 of its cadres had been killed within the encounter through which 22 safety personnel had misplaced their lives.
Constable Rakeshwar Singh Manhas of the 210th CoBRA battalion, an elite unit of CRPF, had gone lacking after the gunfight alongside the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts final Saturday.
The CPI (Maoist) assertion additionally claimed that 24 safety personnel had been killed within the encounter.
“As many as 2,000 police personnel had reached close to Jiragudem village to execute a significant assault (on Saturday). To thwart them, PLGA (Peoples’ Liberation Guerilla Military) retaliated throughout which 24 safety personnel had been killed and 31 others injured. We now have caught a policeman (CoBRA commando) on the spot whereas others escaped,” mentioned an announcement purportedly written by Maoists and being circulated on social media on Tuesday.
It mentioned the federal government ought to first announce names of interlocutors and the jawan will likely be launched later. He’ll stay protected in our captivity until then, it mentioned.
The 2-page assertion was issued within the title of Vikalp, spokesperson of the Dandakaranya Particular Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of Maoists, which had been instrumental in executing a number of lethal assaults in south Bastar, together with the Jhiram valley assault in Bastar district on Might 25, 2013, through which high Congress leaders of Chhattisgarh unit had been killed.
Maoists admitted that 4 cadres had been killed within the Bijapur gunfight and the physique of the girl cadre couldn’t be retrieved from the spot.
The physique of a lady Maoist was recovered by safety forces from the encounter spot.
The ultras additionally claimed to have seized 14 weapons, 2,000 cartridges and different supplies from the encounter website.
The images issued with the purported assertion exhibits the looted arms and ammunition.
Nevertheless, sources in police had mentioned at the least 12 Maoists had been killed within the gunfight that lasted for over 4 hours.
In keeping with the police, ten weapons, together with seven AK-47 rifles, two SLR rifles and one Mild Machine Gun (LMG), of the safety personnel went lacking after the assault.
In the meantime, a senior police officer mentioned the authenticity of the assertion is being verified.
“The authenticity of the assertion issued by Maoists claiming that they’ve held hostage the jawan is being verified. Additional motion will likely be taken accordingly,” Inspector Common of Police (Bastar vary) Sundarraj P advised PTI.
Police have been repeatedly finishing up searches to hint Manhas, and native villagers, social organisations, native public representatives and journalists are additionally being contacted to find his whereabouts, the IG mentioned.
Tribal Activist Soni Sori has appealed to Maoists to launch the jawan if he’s of their captivity.
“In the event that they delay releasing the jawan, then I’ll head in direction of the encounter website on Wednesday and can attempt to discuss to them (Maoists) to free him,” Sori mentioned.
Manhas was a part of a squad that had gone for an anti-Naxal operation on Friday night time within the jungles on the Bijapur and Sukma border.
On Saturday, the gunfight broke out between safety forces and ultras between Tekalguda and Jonaguda villages through which 22 troopers had been killed and 31 others injured.
Out of the 22, the Central Reserve Police Drive (CRPF) misplaced eight personnel, together with seven CoBRA commandos and one jawan from its Bastariya battalion, eight from the DRG and 6 from the Particular Activity Drive.
Union House Minister Amit Shah on Monday visited Jagdalpur and Bijapur to assessment the state of affairs within the aftermath of the lethal assault.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
