CONSTABLE
On 20 October 2008, personnel of the 170th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force were operating against Maoists near Kongupalli village in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. As the troops advanced towards their target, Maoists waiting in ambush opened indiscriminate fire and detonated improvised explosive devices.
The attackers occupied advantageous high ground and attempted to encircle the CRPF party. More than 200 Maoists were involved in the attack. The CRPF personnel responded forcefully, inflicted heavy losses and resisted the coordinated assault.
The encounter became a prolonged battle. The troops’ resistance forced the Maoists to abandon their plan and flee. Constable Sailendra Bhardwaj was among the 12 personnel of the 170th Battalion who made the supreme sacrifice during the operation.
The subsequent search recovered a Maoist’s body, a 12-bore gun, approximately 50 metres of wire, a container holding 2.5 kilograms of explosive material, and other incriminating items. Bhardwaj is remembered among the CRPF personnel who made the supreme sacrifice on 20 October 2008.
