Chhattisgarh police identify 2 out of 29 Maoists killed in Kanker encounter

Including the encounter on Tuesday, 79 Maoists have been killed so far this year in separate gunfights with security forces in the Bastar region, which consists of seven districts, including Kanker

Published on: Apr 17, 2024, 14:23:01 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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A day after 29 Maoists were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces, the police on Wednesday identified two of them, both divisional committee members of North Bastar Division of CPI (Maoist), officials said. Identification of other Maoists and search operation at the encounter site is still underway.

Paramilitary forces patrol a Maoist-affected area. (HT File Photo)

The two Maoists, who have been identified are Shankar Rao and Lalita Meravi, carried a reward of ₹8 lakh on their heads.

“The rest of the Maoists could be from the Partapur area committee of CPI (Maoist) and from the People’s Liberation of Guerrilla Army (PLGA),” a senior police official said.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said that the encounter, which took place in the tri-junction of Kanker, Narayanpur (Chhattisgarh) and Gadchiroli (adjoining Maharashtra), caused a big dent for the North Bastar Division of the ultras.

“The division is known for collecting illegal levy and also provide safe haven to Maoists in the region. They have suffered a major setback in this division after the encounter,” the IG said, adding that there were around 110 armed cadres of Maoists in this division before the gunfight.

“One AK-47, two Insas rifles, two self loading rifles (SLR), one carbine and other weapons were recovered from the site of the encounter. The inputs were received about the presence of around 50 Maoists,” Sundarraj said.

Also Read:29 Maoists dead in fierce Chhattisgarh operation

“The Maoists had hatched a conspiracy to carry out violent activities during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. We made proper arrangements at the time of the assembly elections [last year], therefore they were not able to execute any big incident,” the IG said.

Including the encounter on Tuesday, 79 Maoists have been killed so far this year in separate gunfights with security forces in the Bastar region, which consists of seven districts, including Kanker.

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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