In a major setback for the Naxal movement, Chhattisgarh security forces eliminated three Naxalites who had between them a collective bounty of ₹14 lakh in an encounter on Saturday. The operation, jointly carried out by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of Kanker and Gariaband and the Border Security Force (BSF), took place in the dense forested hills bordering Chhindkhadak village, along the Kanker–Gariaband boundary.
As per police officials, the murdered cadres were important operatives of the Sitanadi-Ravas area committee of the banned CPI (Maoist). They were named as Sarvan Madkam alias Vishwanath, who had a reward of ₹8 lakh and was the secretary of the committee; Rajesh alias Rakesh Hemla, a member of the area committee who had a reward of ₹5 lakh; and Basanti Kunkjam alias Hidme, a member of the protection unit who had a reward of ₹1 lakh.
After the encounter, security officials recovered an arsenal of weapons such as a self-loading rifle (SLR), a .303 rifle, and a 12-bore gun and other Maoist-related items. Officials pointed out that the successful operation is yet another milestone in the state’s stepped-up campaign against Naxal violence.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said that the encounter has taken the overall casualty figure of Naxalites in Chhattisgarh for this year to 252, highlighting the mounting pressure on Maoist outfits. He also urged the remaining cadres to leave the path of violence and adopt government rehabilitation programs, threatening severe action against continuing illegal armed activities.
The attack is a testament to the unabated resolve of Chhattisgarh’s security apparatus to dislocate the Maoist grid in Bastar, the heartland of left-wing extremism for decades. Officials reiterated the pledge to restore peace and get affected youth back on the path of integration through education and income opportunities.
