The 170th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force launched an operation against Maoists near Kongupalli village in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, on 20 October 2008. As the troops approached their target, Maoists lying in wait opened indiscriminate fire and detonated improvised explosive devices.
The attackers occupied advantageous high ground and attempted to surround the CRPF troops. More than 200 Maoists were involved in the planned ambush. The CRPF personnel responded with determination and inflicted heavy losses on the attackers.
The battle continued for an extended period. The resistance of the CRPF troops forced the Maoists to abandon their plan and withdraw. Constable P. C. Sethi was among the 12 personnel of the 170th Battalion who made the supreme sacrifice during the encounter.
A subsequent search 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. Sethi’s sacrifice is remembered as part of the battalion’s action on 20 October 2008.
