At least 22 security personnel were killed and 30 others injured in an encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. The attack took place in a forest along the border between Bijapur and Sukma districts in Chhattisgarh.

22 security personnel have lost their lives in the Naxal attack at Sukma-Bijapur in Chhattisgarh, says SP Bijapur, Kamalochan Kashyap

Visuals from the Sukma-Bijapur Naxal attack site pic.twitter.com/C3VvAdvjaN— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2021

Eighteen jawans were missing after five security personnel were killed and 30 others injured on Saturday in the fierce gunbattle with Naxals, police earlier said. "On Sunday, bodies of 17 missing personnel were recovered during a search operation. With this, total 22 personnel have been killed in the gunfight," a senior police official said.

According to reports, more than two dozen weapons have been looted by Naxals from security personnel after the encounter.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said a befitting reply will be given to the Naxal attack in Chhatisgarh at an appropriate time. He also said search operations are continuing in Chhattisgarh following the encounter.

''As far as the numbers are concerned, both sides have suffered losses and exact casualty figures cannot be ascertained immediately'', Shah said, after cutting short his election campaigning in Assam. '' Our securitymen have lost their lives, we will not tolerate this bloodshed and a befitting reply will be given at an appropriate time'', he added.

Earlier in the day, he said that the valour of security personnel will never be forgotten.

"I bow to the sacrifices of our brave security personnel martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Nation will never forget their valour. My condolences are with their families. We will continue our fight against these enemies of peace & progress. May injured recover soon," he said in a tweet.

I bow to the sacrifices of our brave security personnel martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Nation will never forget their valour. My condolences are with their families. We will continue our fight against these enemies of peace & progress. May injured recover soon.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 4, 2021

This was the second major Naxal incident in the state in the last 10 days. On March 23, five DRG personnel were killed when Naxals blew up a bus carrying the security personnel with an IED in Narayanpur district.

On March 21 last year, 17 security personnel, including 12 from DRG, were killed in a Naxal ambush in Minpa area of Sukma district.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)

(Edited by : Aditi Gautam)

First Published:Apr 4, 2021 9:30 AM IST