Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh: Soldier kidnapped by Maoists after deadly encounter released
Raipur/IBNS: A commando, who was kidnapped by Maoists after a deadly encounter in Chhattisgarh on Saturday, has been released, media reports said.
Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, the soldier, has been released after more than 100 hours in captivity.
Twenty two security personnel were killed while performing their duty after an encounter broke between security forces and Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, about 400 km from Raipur.
On Saturday, separate joint teams of security forces, with over 2,000 personnel, launched a major operation from Bijapur and Sukma districts, which are considered a Maoist stronghold.
At around 12 noon, the Maoists laid an ambush, leading to an encounter that lasted for three hours.
On Saturday, PM Modi also consoled the loss of lives and said the "sacrifices of the brave martyrs will never be forgotten".
"My thoughts are with the families of those martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. The sacrifices of the brave martyrs will never be forgotten. May the injured recover at the earliest," he wrote.
For the last 10 days, security forces in the state were getting tip-offs about the presence of Madvi Hidma, a top member of banned CPI (Maoist), who has been linked to major attacks including the 2013 Jhiram Ghati killings.
Over 30 people, including senior leaders of the Chhattisgarh Congress, were killed in the Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack in 2013.
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