Madhya Pradesh Hawk Force inspector killed in Maoist encounter on MP–Chhattisgarh border

The 26-year-old inspector was reportedly shot by the Maoists during a joint operation by Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra forces in a forest in Balaghat.

Published on: Nov 19, 2025, 17:17:01 IST

By Shruti Tomar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Hawk Force inspector Ashish Sharma was killed in an encounter with Maoists on MP–Chhattisgarh border on Wednesday.

Inspector Ashish Sharma was killed in an encounter with Maoists in Balaghat on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old inspector was reportedly shot by the Maoists during a joint operation by Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra forces in a forest in Balaghat.

“Information was received about Maoists hiding near Bor Talab on the border of the three states. Upon arrival, the police asked them to surrender but they started firing. The force also retaliated. In the gunfight, inspector Ashish Sharma, who was leading the three-person team, was shot. He was rushed to the hospital in an injured condition, where doctors declared him dead,” anti-naxal operations deputy director general of police Pankaj Srivastava said.

Ashish Sharma was a resident of Bohani village in Gadarwara, Narsinghpur district. He was selected as a sub-inspector in 2016. The Madhya Pradesh government awarded him an out-of-turn promotion as a reward for anti-Maoist operations. He received two gallantry medals from the Government of India in the last two years.

Chief minister Mohan Yadav paid tribute to Ashish Sharma on X. “Today, Inspector Ashish Sharma of the Madhya Pradesh Hawk Force attained martyrdom in an encounter with Maoists. I offer my humble tributes. My condolences are with the bereaved family. He displayed unprecedented valour and courage during an anti-Naxal operation conducted by a joint team of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra in the forests of Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh,” Yadav said.

“His supreme sacrifice in the national campaign to eradicate Maoists will always be unforgettable. He was previously awarded the gallantry medal by the Government of India twice for displaying indomitable courage and exceptional bravery in the line of duty,” he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike LIVE and more across India.