Chhattisgarh

The incident occurred in the Aranpur area when the DRG team was returning to its district headquarters in Dantewada between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. DRG is a special force of the Chhattisgarh police, which mostly involves local tribals, for carrying carry out anti-Maoist operations. As per official sources, DRG teams were carrying out anti-Maoist operations in the Aranpur area for the past few days.

"The terms and conditions of his appointment shall be governed by the provisions of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990 and the rules made there under as amended from time to time," said an order issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Monday.

According to the data, out of the 74 cases of murder by the Maoists, 62 were reported from Chhattisgarh. Similarly, out of the 41 registered cases of loot by the Maoists in 2020, 39 were reported from Chhattisgarh. A total of 533 cases were registered against Maoists in eight states in 2020, including 296 in Chhattisgarh, 133 in Jharkhand, and 32 in Maharashtra.

But sources claim that he may meet Congress leaders in Delhi as suspense over Chhattisgarh is not yet over and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit Sarguja and Bastar in the second week of September. The state unit is preparing for his visit as Sarguja is the stronghold of Singhdeo in the state. The Chhattisgarh Health Minister arrived in Delhi on Monday evening.

"I have apprised him of everything and discussed political as well as administrative issues... have requested Rahul Gandhi to visit Chhattisgarh," Baghel said. The Congress high command had summoned Baghel to Delhi on Friday to take a final call whether the powerful OBC leader should be allowed to continue as the Chief Minister or be replaced by T.S. Singh Deo, scion of the Surguja royal family.

However the crisis in the state has deepened with 36 odd MLAs also coming to New Delhi to meet senior leader KC Venugopal and apprise him of the situation in the state. Twenty more MLAs will board a flight on Friday. While TS Singh Deo on Thursday categorically said that he will take on any responsibility given to him by the party high command, he also said that everyone is an aspirant for the top post in the state.

According to the Congress leader, Baghel and Deo will meet Rahul Gandhi at his residence on Tuesday and will discuss several issues. The two state leaders will also meet Chhattisgarh in-charge P.L. Punia and others. The meeting assumes significance following the exit of the Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev from the party recently. There were several reports of differences between Baghel and Deo.

According to the ITBP, the exchange of fire took place at Kademeta (Narayanpur), a bordering area of Dantwada, when one company of the 45th Battalion was out on an area domination operation. The force personnel were fired upon by a small action team of Maoists when it was approximately 600m away from the camp at around 12.30 p.m.

Talking to IANS, Singh Deo, who is in Delhi for family functions and routine checkups, said: "I have not raised any issue regarding the Chief Ministership as it is the Congress leadership that will decide on the issue." He said there is no need to take up the matter with the party as they are well aware of everything, but rubbished claims that he is in Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi.