Three Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in a forested area at Tumalpad in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Sunday, police said.
The Union government has set a target of eliminating the Maoist insurgency by March 2026. (AFP/File)
The gunfight broke out when an operation was launched based on inputs about the movement of Maoists, Sukma police superintendent Kiran Chavan said.
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The exchange of fire continued intermittently, after which the bodies of three Maoists, including two women, were recovered. A .303 rifle, Barrel Grenade Launchers, other weapons, and explosives were seized from the scene.
The three were identified as Madvi Deva, Podiam Gangi, and Sodhi Gangi, who carried a bounty of ₹5 lakh each on their heads. Police said Deva was a sniper specialist allegedly involved in civilian killings. A search operation was underway in areas adjoining the encounter site.
Inspector general (Bastar range) Sundarraj Pattilingam said the Maoist movement in the region is in its “final stage” and urged Maoists to surrender and join the government’s rehabilitation programme.
Police said 262 Maoists have been killed in Chhattisgarh so far this year. Nearly 300 of them surrendered last month in the state. Top Maoist Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi and 60 others laid down arms in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.
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The Union government has reiterated its target of eliminating the Maoist insurgency from the country by March 2026.
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The Union government has reiterated its target of eliminating the Maoist insurgency from the country by March 2026.
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.
