8 Maoists killed by forces in Chattisgarh, six of them were most wanted, claim Police

Eight maoists were gunned down by security forces in a joint operation that lasted for hours in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district on Saturday. In the encounter, a security personnel also succumbed to a bullet injury. Six of the eight maoists, later identified as senior-rank cadres with a cumulative cash reward of Rs 48 lakh as most-wanted insurgents, claimed Chattisgarh Police on Sunday. Two more deceased were yet to be identified by police. 

“Six of the eight killed cadres were identified as Sudru, Vargesh, Mamta, Samira, Kosi and Moti, who were active at different capacities and carrying a reward of ₹8 lakh each on their heads,” inspector general of police, Bastar range Sundarraj P told the media, while confirming that three of the six identified so far were divisional committee members of the CPI (Maoist) and three others were members of the Maad division of the People’s Liberation of Guerrilla Army (PLGA). 

On the basis of inputs of Maoist activities in Kutul, Farasbeda, Kodtameta and Adingpar villages, a joint combing operation was launched on June 12, called “Maad Bachao Abhiyan”. The joint operation was undertaken by Chattisgarh police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG) and STF, along with the 53rd battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and 135th battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF) 

“Around 7am on Saturday, armed Maoists first opened fire on security personnel in a forest near Kutul-Farasbeda and Kodtameta. 

Police immediately took position on spot for self defence and called for surrender, but the Maoists ignored and continued firing, forces retaliated by firing. Thereafter, intermittent encounters took place with different teams throughout the day. After seeing themselves surrounded, the Maoists ran to save their lives by taking cover of dense forests and hills”, the IG added. 

One INSAS rifle, two .303 rifles, three .315 bore rifles, one barrel grenade launcher (BGL) and large quantities of explosives, medicines and other daily-use items were recovered the spot. Police suspect few could have escaped taking advantage of dense forest. 

STF constable, Nitesh Ekka (27), was killed in the encounter and two of his colleagues, Lekhram Netam (28) and Kailash Netam (33), were injured.

This was the latest in a series of anti-Naxal operations carried out in 2024 since BJP came into power in the state last December. So far 131 maoists have been neutralised in Chattisgarh this year through various operations.