RAIPUR: A police officer was martyred in a fierce gunfight with Maoists on Friday night in which four rebels, including a divisional committee member, were gunned down in Rajnandgaon.
Sub-inspector Shyam Kishore Sharma was leading from the front as he led a police team to intercept a group of Maoists spotted in a patch of jungle on the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border. Two of the Maoists killed are women. An AK47 recovered from the scene of battle indicates there was at least one important rebel leader. He was later identified as divisional committee member Ashok.
Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed grief over the loss of the police officer and tweeted, "I am saddened by the martyrdom of inspector Shyam Kishore Sharma in the Maoist encounter. I salute his sacrifice and pray for his bereaved family." Home minister Tamradwaj Sahu paid tributes to the martyred officer.
Based on intelligence input about the movement of more than 10 Maoists in the region, Sharma and his team headed towards the location on Friday night. When the force reached Pardhoni village around 10.30pm, they came under heavy fire from Maoists.
It seemed the rebels were laying down concentrated fire to help someone escape. Sharma, who was at the head of the police team, was caught in the open and hit.
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