Pankaj Singh
The operation lasted for an hour between the forces and Santosh Markam.
Security forces killed Naxalite Santosh Markam in an encounter. Santosh Markam was wanted in over twenty different cases.
On Sunday morning, after receiving a tip-off about some hardcore Naxalite presence in the pordem forest area of sukma Dantewada border. The DRG team of sukma and Dantewada launched a search operation to nab the terrorists.
Around 12.30 pm, Naxals hiding in the forests of Poredem started firing on the security forces. The retaliatory action by the security forces created panic among the Naxalites and, they fled. The security personnel searched the scene after the encounter, which lasted about an hour. They discovered the body of a Naxal along with a weapon.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallav said that the slain terrorist has been identified as Santosh Markam. Markam, a member of the Malangir Area Committee, was wanted in over two dozen cases and was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh.
Abhishek Pallav further said that such campaigns will continue against the Naxalites in the coming days as well.
In a similar incident, the team of DRG Bastar killed another Naxalite Madavi Joga in an encounter near Elangnar (Darbha) on Wednesday night. The slain terrorist was a member of the Kete Kalyan Area Committee of the Maoists. According to Bastar Superintendent of Police DK Jha, a 303 rifle was also retrieved from the scene.
Along with the search operations against the Naxalites, the security forces have also started the Lone Varatu campaign around Bastar and surrounding areas in full swing. “Lone Varatu” is a request to the youth who have been misguided, To leave the violence and return to the mainstream. So far, 378 Naxalites have surrendered under this campaign.
