Chhattisgarh: CRPF jawan heard Aapbati, told what happened on the day of Naxal attack

In the eyes of CRPF’s Cobra Battalion Jawan Balraj Singh, all the pictures of the Maoist attack in Bijapur on Saturday go together. 22 Maoist soldiers were killed in this Maoist attack at Tarrem in Bijapur. Apart from this, 31 injured jawans were admitted to hospitals in Bijapur and Raipur. Balraj Singh is one of these injured soldiers.

Balraj Singh, admitted to Ramakrishna Hospital in Raipur, was shot in the stomach. But now they are out of danger after treatment. Discussions of his bravery are everywhere. State Special Director General of Police RK Vij reached the hospital and presented a turban to Balaram as well. Kaleur village is five and a half kilometers to the left on Khadur Saheb Road from Tarn Taran in Punjab. Balraj Singh is a resident of this village.

Balraj Singh, who graduated, was admitted to CRPF in October 2014 and is originally posted in Assam. Balraj has three elder sisters in his family, who are married. The father previously used to work in Dubai, now lives in the village and does farming. Balraj says that he wanted to join the army from the beginning. They say that in our Tarn Taran, the dream of youth is uniform. In army or in CRPF or BSF. Wherever you are, wear a uniform. This is the first choice even today.

Story of encounter
Balraj Singh’s parents and his wife are still in the village and after the encounter in Bijapur, Balraj keeps telling them every day how his health is now. But after knowing the well-being, relatives and friends are more interested in what happened that day in Bijapur?

The bullet wounds in the stomach are still green, so even in trying to smile, pain emerges on Balraj Singh’s face. They say in Punjabi that I am all right. My health is fine. The bullet went out of touch and no more, just recovering slowly I am fit.

On Saturday, his eyes start flashing while describing the encounter with the Maoists. They say that on Friday, the CRPF team left from Bansaguda Camp to Tarrem police station around 9 pm. The distance between the camp and the police station is about 12-13 kilometers.

Balraj says that from there, our operation started around one and a half o’clock at night. After walking all night, after searching the fixed target, our party stopped when we were coming back. That means water-grains started drinking. Halted over a hill for a while.
2059 personnel of the CRPF, District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force and Cobra Battalion were deployed that night for operations against the Maoists.

No one was found in the areas that were searched in this operation. After this, the soldiers of the security forces were convinced that there are no Maoists anywhere. The operation was also over and the night-weary team was returning. It would be about eight o’clock in the morning, when a troop of soldiers split into two-three parts and stayed for a while near the hill of Jonnaguda.

Balraj says that at the same time the SP sent a message to the team leader that a large team of Naxalites is roaming around you, you should be careful. After wandering throughout the night, the jawans did not get time to dull a little and eat the biscuits with them.

The team immediately made an all-round security ring and took positions by making a circle around Tekri. While doing all this, the security personnel also saw many other people, but most of them were common people and they were unarmed. Therefore, the team of security forces did not pay much attention to them.

Balraj says that at the same time an attack on us started from the hills. Whoever they made improvised bombs, UBJUEL, mortar, they attacked them. Many of our soldiers were injured in this and one-two people died as well. After that, we left Tekri and came down towards the ground. There was a three-way attack. On one hand, we broke their ambush and confronted them completely.

Balraj and his companions were moving ahead with the bullets but it was not so easy. When the firing took place from outside, the first STF personnel went to chase them. He was followed by the Cobra Battalion and the jawans came to dominate the Maoists.

They were moving while firing bullets when the STF jawan in front was shot. Balraj then ran towards a tree to take his position but by then a bullet had gone through his abdomen. Meanwhile, Vijay and Neeraj Katiyar of number one team took over Balraj.

Balraj Singh says that by the time we reached Teklaguda village, I was also injured. I was shot in the stomach. The rest of the jawans who were fine, were in fighting condition, by making a box format, they took those who were injured in the middle. Those who were not in walking condition, made them cot or whatever they had, made them like stretchers and took them to the chopper.

All the attention of the jawans who were alright was to take the injured jawans with them and get out safely. Balraj remembers each scene like that. They say that when they thought they could walk, they walked the whole way on foot. He told his comrades that you people should not worry about me, you should compete because Maoists were constantly chasing them. After this, other allies confronted the Maoists. By then, the day had started to wane.

Balraj Singh did not lose courage and, walking on foot with his companions, reached Silger, three kilometers away, where he was sent for treatment. Balraj Singh had never encountered any direct encounters. This is the first opportunity for them but they want to recover quickly and get back in the field, then compete with the Maoists.

But before that they wish that if everything goes well then they should celebrate their birthday with their family at the end of this month. This is the 28th birthday of his life and he has returned after beating death, in that sense, also his first birthday.

In the eyes of CRPF’s Cobra Battalion Jawan Balraj Singh, all the pictures of the Maoist attack in Bijapur on Saturday go together. 22 Maoist soldiers were killed in this Maoist attack at Tarrem in Bijapur. Apart from this, 31 injured jawans were admitted to hospitals in Bijapur and Raipur. Balraj Singh is one of these injured soldiers.

Balraj Singh, admitted to Ramakrishna Hospital in Raipur, was shot in the stomach. But now they are out of danger after treatment. Discussions of his bravery are everywhere. State Special Director General of Police RK Vij reached the hospital and presented a turban to Balaram as well. Kaleur village is five and a half kilometers to the left on Khadur Saheb Road from Tarn Taran in Punjab. Balraj Singh is a resident of this village.

Balraj Singh, who graduated, was admitted to CRPF in October 2014 and is originally posted in Assam. Balraj has three elder sisters in his family, who are married. The father previously used to work in Dubai, now lives in the village and does farming. Balraj says that he wanted to join the army from the beginning. They say that in our Tarn Taran, the dream of youth is uniform. In army or in CRPF or BSF. Wherever you are, wear a uniform. This is the first choice even today.

Story of encounter

Balraj Singh’s parents and his wife are still in the village and after the encounter in Bijapur, Balraj keeps telling them every day how his health is now. But after knowing the well-being, relatives and friends are more interested in what happened that day in Bijapur?

The bullet wounds in the stomach are still green, so even in trying to smile, pain emerges on Balraj Singh’s face. They say in Punjabi that I am all right. My health is fine. The bullet went out of touch and no more, just recovering slowly I am fit.

On Saturday, his eyes start flashing while describing the encounter with the Maoists. They say that on Friday, the CRPF team left from Bansaguda Camp to Tarrem police station around 9 pm. The distance between the camp and the police station is about 12-13 kilometers.

Balraj says that from there, our operation started around one and a half o’clock at night. After walking all night, after searching the fixed target, our party stopped when we were coming back. That means water-grains started drinking. Halted over a hill for a while.

2059 personnel of the CRPF, District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force and Cobra Battalion were deployed that night for operations against the Maoists.

No one was found in the areas that were searched in this operation. After this, the soldiers of the security forces were convinced that there are no Maoists anywhere. The operation was also over and the night-weary team was returning. It would be about eight o’clock in the morning, when a troop of soldiers split into two-three parts and stayed for a while near the hill of Jonnaguda.

Balraj says that at the same time the SP sent a message to the team leader that a large team of Naxalites is roaming around you, you should be careful. After wandering throughout the night, the jawans did not get time to dull a little and eat the biscuits with them.