Suspected woman Maoist killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh

The police have recovered Maoist literature and other related material from the site, which falls under MMC zone (Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh) of CPI (Maoist).

Updated on: Sep 29, 2019, 20:39:59 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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A woman, suspected to be a Maoist, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Kabirdham district bordering Madhya Pradesh on Sunday.

The police have recovered Maoist literature and other related material from the site, which falls under MMC zone (Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh) of CPI (Maoist).

“The encounter started at around 1:15 pm near Suratiya village at the Madhya Pradesh border and lasted for about 30 minutes. After the gunfire, Maoists managed to escape into the jungle and later a body was found during the search operation,” said Sunderraj P, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Naxal operation.

The woman was identified as Jugni, a member of ‘Vistaar Platoon’ number 3 of CPI (Maoist), Sunderraj said.

‘Vistaar (expansion) platoons’ of Maoists are tasked to expand the area of newly formed MMC zone (Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh), which includes districts at the tri-junction of the three states. As per intelligence sources, there are about 200 armed cadres of CPI (Maoist) in these platoons.

The police believe that since the security forces’ operations in Bastar increased in the last one year, the Maoists were moving towards the MMC zone.

A letter was recovered by the security forces in February 2017 from Bastar pointing to the increasing pressure in the region and shifting of the ultras to the MMC.

“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,” the letter read.

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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