31 Suspected Maoists Killed in Chhattisgarh Operation: Cops

Sankalp, an Operation Against Maoists, Involving Nearly 28,000 Security Personnel Has Been Going on in the South-West Bastar Region

- Ritesh Mishra

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh police on Monday said they have recovered the bodies of 31 suspected Maoists in the ongoing anti-left wing extremism operation Sankalp in the dense forests surrounding the Karregutta hills in Bijapur district along the state's border with Telangana.

Sankalp, a decisive operation against Maoists, involving around 28,000 security personnel has been going on in the south-west Bastar region, adjoining Telangana, since April 21. Police, however, did not specify when and where the 31 Maoists were killed.

Police have identified 20 of the deceased Maoists whose bodies were recovered from the forests and of these, bodies of 11 ultras have been handed over to their families after completion of post-mortem examinations and other legal formalities, the Bijapur police said in a statement on Monday.

"The identification process for the remaining 11 bodies is underway. Once the process is complete, their bodies will also be returned to their respective families," it added.