Chhattisgarh: 'Missing jawan could be in Naxals' captivity,' says Bastar IG

Bastar IG P Sundarraj said there's a strong possibility of the missing jawan being in Naxals' captivity.

He said forces conducted a search operation at the encounter site but couldn't find him.

The cobra jawan was part of a squad that had gone for an anti-naxal operation on Friday.

“Among the jawans killed and injured in naxal attack, one is still missing.

Constable Rakeshwar Singh Manhas is of the 210th battalion of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action).

The search party has been looking for our missing soldier.

We got to know via social media that he has been abducted by Naxals.

There is a possibility that it's true, we are verifying the information.

We will take necessary action to get the missing jawan back safely,” Sundarraj said.

Manhas went missing on Saturday after a gunfight along the border of Sukma and Bijapur.

As many as 22 security personnel were killed and 31 others were injured in the fierce gunbattle.