5 Maoists killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region

This is the second big loss for Maoists this month after they lost seven members in another encounter on August 3.

Updated on: Aug 24, 2019, 11:34:02 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Five Maoists were killed in an encounter inside the jungles of Abujhmad in Naryanpur district of Bastar region on Saturday morning, police said.

The encounter between Moaists and Chhattisgarh Police took place in the jungles of Abujhmad in Naryanpur district of Bastar region. (HT FILE PHOTO)

This is the second major encounter this month after seven other left rebels were killed in Rajnandgaon district on August 3.

Police said that an automatic rifle and other weapons have been seized from the site of the encounter, about 250 km south of Raipur.

Two jawans of Chhattisgarh police also sustained bullet injuries in the encounter.

“A team of Chhattisgarh police, on specific input raided a Maoist camp in Dhurveda jungles, about 19 km from Orchha in Naryanpur. The Maoists started firing and the encounter continued for about 90 minutes,” said Director General of Police (DGP) DM Awasthi.

The DGP further said that after the encounter ended police have recovered five bodies of Maoists and weapons including a carbine.

“Two of our jawans were injured in the encounter,” said the DGP.

Abujhmad, straddled between Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, is also called an ‘unknown hill’ as the 6,000 sq km of thick forest has not been surveyed since the British era. Narayanpur district administration tried to conduct a survey in 2017 but the plan was aborted after an IED blast. The jungle is epicentre of Maoist activities and most of their senior members camp here

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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