Three police personnel killed in encounter with Naxalites in Chhattisgarh
Raipur, Feb 25: Three personnel of the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) were killed in an encounter with Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Saturday, a senior official said.
The gunfight took place around 9 am between Jagargunda and Kunded villages when a DRG team was out on patrolling to provide security to road construction in the area, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI.
The road is being built on a stretch between Jagargunda (Sukma) and Basaguda (Bijapur district).
On February 20, two police personnel had been killed in a Naxalite attack in Rajnandgaon district of the state.
Recently, DRG camps were set up in Kunded village (Sukma) and Bedre (Bijapur) to provide security to the construction work.
A contingent of around 150 DRG personnel had set out for patrolling on Saturday morning from Jagargunda towards Kunded when Naxalites, belonging to the ultras' `military battalion number 1', ambushed it, leading to a heavy exchange of fire, the IG said.
The military battalion no 1 of the Naxalites, headed by Hidma, is considered as their strongest formation in the Bastar region, officials said.
The gunfight lasted for about one hour following which the Naxalites escaped, the IG said.
"Assistant sub-inspector Ramuram Nag (36), assistant constable Kunjam Joga (33) and sainik Vanjam Bheema (31) were killed in the exchange of fire," the IG said.
Reinforcement of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its elite unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and DRG personnel was rushed to the spot and the bodies of the deceased personnel were evacuated, he said.
A search operation was still underway in the area, located over 400 km away from capital Raipur, he said.
According to the DGR personnel on the spot, half a dozen Naxalites were killed in the encounter but their colleagues managed to drag their bodies inside the forest, he said.
This was a major attack on security personnel in Bastar region after the 2021 Takalgudiyam ambush in the neighbouring Bijapur district in which 22 security personnel were killed.
Tekalgudiyam is located a few kilometers away from the site of Saturday's attack.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed deep grief over the incident and said the martyrdom of the soldiers will not go in vain.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rahul's exhilarating 152 powers DC to 264/2
New Delhi (PTI): KL Rahul blended grace with power to script a stroke-filled 152, the third-highest individual IPL score, while Nitish Rana (91) batted with authority as the duo powered hosts Delhi Capitals to a mammoth 264 for 2 against Punjab Kings here on Saturday.
Setting a target for the first time this season, the Capitals came out with clear intent, attacking anything in their arc from the outset.
The home team hit a total of 29 fours and 13 sixes to put on board the highest total of the 2026 IPL season.
Striking at over 200 throughout the 20 overs, Rahul (152 off 67 balls) unfurled a range of classical strokes all around the ground, seamlessly combining timing with aggression to put up the highest-score ever by an Indian in the IPL.
With the knock, he also became only the third player to go beyond 150-run mark after Chris Gayle (175) and Brendon McCullum (158).
Dropped on 18 by Shashank Singh, he made full use of the reprieve, forging a 220-run stand with local boy Rana for the second wicket. It was second biggest stand in IPL history behind 229 set by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
Rana looked completely at ease on his home ground. His 44-ball knock, laced with 11 fours and 4 sixes, provided the perfect foil as the duo kept the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace.
Rahul set the tone early, striking back-to-back boundaries in the second over before Pathum Nissanka chipped in with a crisp four.
Although Punjab struck an early blow with Nissanka top-edging to the keeper, their bowlers found little respite thereafter. They were also guilty of a few misfields, which only added to their woes.
Rahul and Rana seized control, punishing anything loose and propelling Delhi to 68 for one, DC's best powerplay score of the season before plundering 145 runs in the middle overs.
Rana then shifted gears in spectacular fashion, taking apart Australian pacer Xavier Bartlett in the 12th over for 28 runs.
The left-hander dealt exclusively in boundaries, smashing two sixes and four fours in a sequence of 6,4,4,4,4,6.
At the other end, Rahul was equally ruthless, taking a liking to Vijaykumar Vyshak in the 16th over, from which he plundered three sixes and a four, as Delhi tightened their grip on the contest.
