7 Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh encounter, police call it a ‘success’

Police also recovered one AK-47, two .303 rifles and other arms/ammunition from the spot.

Updated on: Aug 3, 2019, 13:13:23 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Seven alleged Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Rajnandgaon district on Saturday morning.

Seven alleged Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Rajnandgaon district. (Ajay Aggarwal/Hindustan Times (Representative image))

Police also recovered one AK-47, two .303 rifles and other arms/ammunition from the spot.

“Till now we have recovered seven bodies of Maoists and searching of the area is going on. One AK-47 is recovered which means that a commander level cadre of CPI (Maoists) is killed in the encounter but identification is yet to be made,” said Director General of Police ( DGP) DM Awasthi, adding that the encounter took place in the jungles of Sitagota which comes under Bagnadi police station of Rajnandgaon district.

The encounter was carried out by a team of district reserve guard ( DRG).

The DGP further said that it is major success for Chhattisgarh police in Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) zone of Maoists.

“Since the operations in Bastar increased in last one year, the Maoists were moving towards this MMC zone hence we have started operations in this zone also and got success today,” added the DGP.

Notably, newly formed Maoist’s MMC zone (Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh), which includes districts situated at the tri-junction of these three states, has seen the presence of Vistaar Dalam, which has around 200 armed cadres in its ranks.

It is worth mentioning here that a letter recovered by the security forces in February 2017 from Bastar points to the increasing pressure in the region and shifting of forces to the MMC. The letter written to one Comrade Surendra from Comrade Somru says, “Oppression is rising. The enemy has opened 20 new camps in the bureau. Ten new camps have been opened in Darbha division in 2016. Villagers are fleeing from the area and we are working in difficult conditions.”

On July 27, seven Maoists, including three women cadres, were killed in an encounter with security forces in the jungles of Jagadalpur district. Police also recovered five weapons, including one Insas rifle from the spot, after the encounter.

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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