On 20 October 2008, the 170th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force launched an operation against Maoists near Kongupalli village in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. As the troops moved closer to their target, a large Maoist force opened indiscriminate fire from an ambush and detonated improvised explosive devices.
The Maoists had planned the ambush and occupied advantageous heights, attempting to encircle and overwhelm the CRPF party. More than 200 attackers were involved. The CRPF personnel retaliated forcefully and inflicted heavy losses, resisting the attempt to overwhelm them.
The encounter developed into a prolonged battle. The courage and resistance of the CRPF personnel forced the attackers to abandon their plan and flee. Constable Neeraj Kumar Sharma was among the 12 personnel of the 170th Battalion who made the supreme sacrifice.
During the subsequent search, troops recovered a Maoist’s body, a 12-bore gun, approximately 50 metres of wire, a milk container containing 2.5 kilograms of explosive material, and other incriminating items. Sharma is remembered among the CRPF personnel who laid down their lives during the operation.
