Chhattisgarh: Thousands gather to pay tribute to the fallen hero who attained martyrdom fighting Maoists in Orchha

Thousands of locals gathered to pay tributes to the fallen hero, Nitesh Ekka who lost his live fighting bravely with the Maoists in an encounter that unfolded on Saturday in Orchha of Naraynapur district in Chhattisgarh.

Ekka’s mortal remains reached his hometown of Jashpur on June 16, triggering a wave of mourning among the villagers in Charaidand and surrounding areas, thousands of whom assembled subsequently and walked aside Ekka’s coffin in a Saheed-March (Bravery March) which was taken across the town.

Later on, the martyred son of Jashpur was given a guard of honour by the state police amidst chants of ‘Amar Sahid Nitesh Ekka’, Nitesh Ekka Amar Rahe (Long live Nitesh Ekka).

Ekka a personnel of the Special Task Force of the state police was part of the massive operation launched in the Kutul area of Abujhmaad in which as many as eight Maoists were gunned down in a brief exchange of fire on June 15.

Earlier, Ekka’s body was airlifted to Raipur’s Mana camp, where Chief Minister, Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Sharma shouldered his coffin and paid tributes to the fallen soldier.

Taking to the X, CM Sai later emphasized that the martyrdom of Ekka will not go in vain and the government will not remain silent until the Naxals (Maoists) are eliminated.

Meanwhile reiterating the government resolve to wipe out the insurgency from the state, Dy CM, Sharma said that “My heart was filled with emotion while shouldering the coffin of martyr soldier, Nitesh, its only because of heroes like you (Nitesh) that the state and country are completely safe, a resolution arose in my heart that your sacrifice will not go in vain, Bastar will be free from Naxalism.”

Narayanpur encounter

It is noteworthy that security forces launched a massive counter-insurgency drive in Kutul area of Narayanpur district on June 12. The operation was launched following inputs of presence of the Maoists in the area following which personnel comprising of separate units of security forces from four districts were dispatched to the location.

The gunfight which lasted for several hours broke out near the forest of Farasbeda on Saturday resulting in neutralization of as many as eight Maoist cadres of the banned CPI Maoist.

Those who were killed in the action have been identified as cadres of the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA), battalion no 01, the strongest unit of the outlaws. Its been further revealed that six out of the 8 Maoists killed in the action were carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 48 lakhs on their heads. The identities of two other cadres are yet to be ascertained.

Briefing about the development, Sundarraj P, Inspector General (IG) of police, Bastar range, informed “that we have recovered 8 dead bodies of Maoists from the spot including four women cadres, those killed in the action were all members of the PLGA, battalion no 01 and Maad division”.

Read more at: 8 Maoists killed after a brief exchange of fire in Narayanpur, one jawan martyred

Five of the Maoist killed in the action have been identified as Mamta, Wargesh, Sudru, Samira and Kosi, all members of the PLGA battalion no 1, each carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakhs as announced by the state government. While one of the cadre killed in the action has been identified as Moti, a PPC member who was also carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakh on his head.

The security forces have also recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition from the spot. This include recovery of Insas rifle, three not three rifles, 315 bore rifles, ammunition, BGL launcher and BGL shells.

It is worth mentioning here, that this was overall sixth such operation launched by the forces in the last two and a half months alone which has resulted in neutralization of a total of 65 Maoist cadres.

Overall, a total of 135 cadres of the outlawed Maoist outfit have been killed in separate operations carried out by the forces in Abujhmaad and adjoining region in this year alone. This comes simultaneously with surrender and arrest of hundreds of Maoists in the same time period.