Woman Maoist leader with ₹25 lakh bounty shot dead: Chhattisgarh police

Police said that the encounter took place at around 9am in a forest along the border of Dantewada and Bijapur districts

Updated on: Mar 31, 2025, 13:23:00 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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A suspected woman Maoist leader was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada on Monday, an official said.

An Insas rifle was also recovered from the spot. (Representative file photo)

Police said that the encounter took place at around 9am in a forest along the border of Dantewada and Bijapur districts.

“A team of security personnel was out on an anti-Maoist operation when the encounter broke. We have recovered a body till now and more search is underway,” said Dantewada superintendent of police Gaurav Rai.

Also Read: 18 Maoists killed, 4 jawans injured in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh

The SP further said that an Insas rifle was also recovered from the spot.

According to officials aware of the development, the deceased woman has been identified as Renuka aka Banu, who had a reward of ₹25 lakh. She was a state zonal committee member and also incharge of the media team.

The operation was still underway, and the copy will be updated whenever more details are received.

The development come two days after at least 18 suspected Maoists were killed, while four jawans were injured in two separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur districts.

In Sukma, 17 Maoists, including 11 female cadres, were killed. Among them was a member of the special zonal committee member (SZCM) of CPI (Maoist).

In Bijapur, one Maoist was kille by security personnel in the Narsapur jungles.

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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