2 Maoists, including senior member Vijay Reddy, killed in Chhattisgarh gunfight

Police said the two were identified as Vijay Reddy, who carried a reward of ₹25 lakh, and Lokesh Salame, who carried a reward of ₹10 lakh

Published on: Aug 13, 2025, 21:01:02 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

RAIPUR: Two senior Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in the Mohala-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district, officials said on Wednesday.

Vijay Reddy was a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZCM) of the CPI (Maoist) (Sourced)

District superintendent of police YP Singh said the gunfight took place near Retegaon in the Banda Pahad area under Madanwada police station limits on Wednesday afternoon.

“The encounter broke out during an anti-Maoist operation and lasted several hours inside the jungle. Once the exchange of fire subsided, a search of the area led to the recovery of the bodies of two slain Maoists,” said Singh.

He said the two were identified as Vijay Reddy, a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZCM), and Lokesh Salame, a divisional committee member of the Rajanadgaon-Kanker-Border division of the DKSZCM.

Reddy (55), a resident of Andhra Pradesh, carried a reward of ₹25 lakh, while Salame ( 40), a resident of Rajnangaon, had a reward of ₹10 lakh announced for his arrest.

Police officers said additional information about their role in the outlawed CPI (Maoist) organisation would be released later.

“The operation is part of the intensified campaign against Maoist activities in the Bastar region. We are still searching the area as arms and more bodies could be recovered,” the SP said, adding that the operation was continuing despite the rains in the region.

So far, 229 Maoists have been killed in gunfights in Chhattisgarh this year. Of them, 208 were eliminated in the Bastar division, which includes the districts of Bijapur, Bastar, Kanker, Konadagaon, Narayanpur, Sukma, and Dantewada.

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

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.