Maoist carrying ₹5 lakh bounty killed in Bijapur gunfight with security forces

The gunfight broke out early on Friday in the Aadwada–Kotmeta forest area under Bhairamgarh police station limits

Published on: Dec 19, 2025, 21:35:52 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: A Maoist carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday, a police officer said.

Police said the gunfight took place on Friday morning (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The gunfight broke out early on Friday in the Aadwada–Kotmeta forest area under Bhairamgarh police station limits, when a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was in the middle of an anti-Maoist operation based on inputs about the presence of cadres in the area.

Police said Fagnu Madvi (35), an active member of the Bhairamgarh area committee of the Maoists, was found dead in the area after the firing stopped. A .303 rifle and a 9 mm pistol were also seized from the spot apart from two scanner sets, a radio, and a medical kit.

Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj Pattilingam, said sustained and coordinated operations by security forces have significantly weakened the Maoist network in Bastar. He said also urged the remaining Maoist cadres to abandon violence and surrender under the government’s rehabilitation policy.

In all, 285 Maoists have been killed in gunfights with security forces in Chhattisgarh this year. Of them, 256 were eliminated in the Bastar division comprising seven districts including Bijapur, 27 in Raipur division’s Gariaband district, and two in Durg division’s Mohla–Manpur–Ambagarh Chowki district.

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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