Woman among two Maoists killed in encounter in Madhya Pradesh

This was the fifth gun battle between the police and Maoists in Balaghat division over the past six months.

Published on: Feb 13, 2021, 15:07:00 IST

By Shruti Tomar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Two Maoists, carrying a cash reward of ₹10 lakh and 14 lakh on their heads, were gunned down in an exchange of fire with security forces in Madhya Pradesh's Mandla district late on Friday, said a police officer.

The bodies of the two women were found Saturday morning after the encounter late Friday. (Representational image/HT PHOTO)

KP Venkateshwar Rao, an additional police director-general, identified the two as Pramila, 25, and Mainu Uike, 21. “The Maoists are trying to make their base in south-western Madhya Pradesh including Balaghat, Mandla and Dindori. The Maoists of platoon 3 of Vistar Dalam were holding a meeting on Friday night when police got information regarding their presence in Lalpur village of Sal forest of Mandla."

He added the police carried out a search operation and found at least two dozen Maoists. "We warned them and asked to surrender but they started firing. The police force also retaliated and fired."

Rao said after the gun battle, a police team inspected the area on Saturday morning and found the bodies of Pramila and Uike. Police also recovered a rifle and groceries near their bodies.

This was the fifth gun battle between the police and Maoists in Balaghat division over the past six months.

Rao said the Centre has granted permission for deployment of a battalion of Central Reserve Police Force to combat Maoists in the state.

(With inputs from Monika Pandey from Jabalpur)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.