Four Border Security Force (BSF) jawans martyred in an encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh on Thursday.
Two other personnel were injured in the gun battle, which took place in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, said police.
“Four jawans of the 114 battalion of BSF died while 2 others sustained injuries in an encounter that broke out between the security forces and Naxals,” DIG Anti-Naxal Operation P Sundarraj told news agency ANI.
The patrolling team had launched the operation from the BSF’s Mahla camp, located around 250 from Raipur, he said.
When the security men were advancing through a forest patch, a group of naxals fired at them, leading to a gun battle, he said. The deceased were identified as BSF’s assistant sub- inspector Boro, and constables Ramkrishnan, Someshwar and Ishrar Khan, he said.
As per a statement by the BSF, the troopers, who were deployed in Kanker’s Pakhanjore, came under attack from the Maoists with improvised explosive devices, leading to an exchange of fire.
“Maoists also suffered casualties,” the statement added. Meanwhile, the area had been cordoned off. The injured BSF jawans have been rushed to a hospital. Further investigation is underway.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has paid tribute to martyred jawans on Twitter.