3 Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh, carried collective reward of Rs 18 lakh

Three Maoists, including a woman cadre, carrying a collective reward of Rs 18 lakh on their heads were gunned down by the security forces in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division on Monday, police said.

Three weapons including an automatic rifle were found at the encounter spot. The dead Maoists have been identified as members of company no 5 of People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA)-- Jyoti, carrying a reward or Rs 8 lakh, Badru, carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh and Guddu, carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, said security officials.

Inspector general of police, Bastar range, Sunderaj P, talking to HT, said that the encounter took place on Monday morning in Tadoki jungles under Raoghat police station of Kanker district.

“The encounter took place between a team of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Maoists. A team of SSB got inputs about the gathering of Maoists and started cordoning off the area. The firing started when the Maoists were cordoned off by the security forces. A jawan of SSB also sustained bullet injuries and his condition is stable,” said the IG.

Three weapons including one SLR and one X-95 have been recovered from the spot. The X-95 weapon was looted by Naxals after an ambush on BSF troops in the Raoghat area in 2018, said security officials.