Chhattisgarh: Maoist killed in encounter with security forces in Kanker

Kanker superintendent of police, Indira Kalyan Elesela, said that the gunfight took place on Sunday afternoon in a forest along the Kanker-Narayanpur border during an anti-Naxal operation

Published on: Feb 3, 2025, 19:17:59 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: A Maoist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, police said on Monday, adding that they have also recovered an automatic rifle from the site.

The Chhattisgarh police said that they have also recovered an automatic rifle from the encounter site in Kanker. (Representational image)

Kanker superintendent of police, Indira Kalyan Elesela, said that the gunfight took place on Sunday afternoon in a forest along the Kanker-Narayanpur border during an anti-Naxal operation.

“The operation was conducted by a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Border Security Force (BSF) following intelligence inputs about the presence of Maoist cadres from the North Bastar and Maad divisions,” said the SP.

After the encounter, security personnel recovered the body of a male Maoist along with a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR).

The deceased Maoist was identified as Jatin Mandavi, who had a reward of ₹8 lakh on his head, the SP added.

This latest encounter follows a major operation in Bijapur district on Saturday, where eight Naxalites were killed. With this, the number of Naxalites neutralised in separate encounters across Chhattisgarh since the beginning of the year has risen to 50.

Bastar division, comprising seven districts including Kanker, has seen the highest number of casualties, with 34 Maoists killed so far. On January 20-21, 16 Naxalites were gunned down in an encounter in Gariaband district under the Raipur division.

According to police records, security forces neutralised 219 Naxalites in various encounters across Chhattisgarh last year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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