On 20 October 2008, troops of the 170th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force launched an operation against Maoists near Kongupalli village in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. As the troops approached their target, Maoists waiting in ambush opened indiscriminate fire and detonated improvised explosive devices.
The attackers had occupied advantageous high ground and attempted to encircle the CRPF party. Numbering more than 200, they sought to overwhelm the troops. The CRPF personnel retaliated with determination, inflicted heavy losses and resisted the attempt to surround them.
The encounter developed into a prolonged battle. The grit and determination of the CRPF personnel forced the Maoists to abandon their plan and flee from the area. Head Constable Parmeshwar Oran was among the 12 personnel of the 170th Battalion who made the supreme sacrifice during the operation.
During a subsequent search, the troops recovered the body of a Maoist, a 12-bore gun, approximately 50 metres of wire, a milk container containing 2.5 kilograms of explosive material, and other incriminating items. Oran’s sacrifice is remembered alongside the 11 other personnel who lost their lives during the encounter.
