A Maoist carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh was killed in an encounter with security forces along the Dantewada-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday night, in what police described as a major breakthrough in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations in the Bastar region.
The encounter occurred in a hilly and forested area between the villages of Gumlanar, Girsapara and Nelgoda under the jurisdiction of Geedam police station in Dantewada district. Security forces had launched intensified search operations in the region after receiving intelligence inputs that members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) had hidden weapons and logistical supplies in the area.
According to police, a joint team comprising the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Bastar Fighter Force was deployed to conduct the search operation.
The team was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Naxal Operations) Rahul Kumar Uyke and supervised by Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai.
Police said the team entered the forest area during the night and began combing operations. Between 8.30 pm and 9 pm, a group of around eight to ten armed Maoists belonging to the Bhairamgarh Area Committee allegedly ambushed the police team and opened indiscriminate fire using automatic weapons.
Security personnel took cover and initially attempted to persuade the Maoists to surrender, but the rebels continued firing. The forces then retaliated in self-defence, leading to a brief but intense exchange of gunfire.
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Under pressure from the counter-fire, the Maoists eventually retreated, taking advantage of the dense forest cover and darkness to escape from the area.
During a subsequent search of the encounter site, security personnel recovered the body of one Maoist, identified as Rajesh Punem, a member of the Bhairamgarh Area Committee. Police said Punem was a resident of Burji village under the Gangaluur police station limits in Bijapur district and had a reward of ₹5 lakh declared against him.
A cache of arms and ammunition was also seized from the site of the encounter. The recovered items included one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), one INSAS rifle, a pistol along with a magazine, a walkie-talkie set, several magazines, and multiple live and empty cartridges.
Following the operation, security personnel carried out precautionary tactical procedures such as Road Opening Party (ROP) checks and area domination exercises to ensure the safety of the forces and to rule out the presence of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or possible follow-up ambushes.
All personnel involved in the operation later returned safely to the district headquarters in Dantewada.
Police officials said the operation was part of a broader push by the Centre to curb Maoist activity in Bastar. The Union government has set a target to significantly weaken the Maoist network in the region by March 31.
Authorities said anti-Naxal operations will continue across Bastar to dismantle Maoist strongholds and restore peace and development in the region.
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