TWO Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) troopers attained martyrdom in a fierce encounter between the ITBP personnel and the Naxals in a forested patch near Kademeta under Chhotedongar Police Station limits on Friday afternoon. As per the police sources, the martyred ITBP personnel have been identified as Assistant Commandant Sudhakar Shinde, a native of Nanded district in Maharashtra and ASI Gurumukh Singh, a native of Raikot, (Punjab). Confirming this, Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Sundarraj P said that Naxals had also looted one AK-47 rifle, bullet proof jackets and wireless set.

 

As a part of Anti-Naxal Operation, the 45 battalion ‘E’ Company ITBP personnel based at Kademeta camp were on area domination. As the ITBP personnel reached near village Becha between Kadenar and Kariyameta, they came under heavy firing of Naxals hiding behind trees. The ITBP troopers also took their position and launched retaliatory attack. Naxals could not sustain longer and vanished, taking advantage of dense forest cover.

 

However, two ITBP personnel Assistant Commandant Sudhakar Shinde and ASI Gurumukh Singh attained martyrdom in Exchange of Fire. Meanwhile, the Naxals also looted arms and other materials before vanishing into forest. Meanwhile, on contacting Superintendent of Police (SP) Uday Kiran said that mortal remains were being brought to Narayanpur. Further details were awaited as search was still under way.

 

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President Vishnudeo Sai has condemned the Maoist attack in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh. Vishnudeo Sai paid his tribute to the martyred two Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) troopers-Assistant Commandant Sudhakar Shinde and Assistant Sub Inspector Gurmukh Singh in a fierce encounter between the ITBP personnel and the ultras in a forested patch near Kademeta under Chhotedongar Police Station of Narayanpur district.

 

Paying homage to the martyred ITBP troopers on behalf of the BJP Chhattisgarh unit, Sai expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the troopers and said that the time has come to take concrete steps on the martyrdom of the soldiers.