Raipur: As many as three Maoists were killed following an exchange of fire with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district, police said.
As per the Gariaband Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Jitendra Chandrakar, the encounter is still underway and further details are awaited.
The gunfight broke out near the Kandesar village under the Indagaon police station limits of Gariyaband district on Friday’s afternoon, January 3 where a joint team of security personnel were out on a combing operation.
According to the reports, the operation was launched on late Thursday night after the forces received credible input about the presence of the ultras.
The number of the Maoist killed in the action may increase further. The forces have also recovered automatic weapons from the possession of the extremists.
Over 200 Maoists were killed in counter-insurgency operations launched by the security forces in the state of Chhattisgarh in the year 2024.
Earlier on Wednesday, as many as 11 Maoists, including Vimla Chandra Sidam, alias Tarakka, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore, surrendered before the police in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli.
The surrender took place at Gadchiroli Police Headquarters. Those laid down weapons had bounties totalling more than Rs 1 crore on their heads. The Chhattisgarh government had also announced a bounty on them.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier announced that the country will be free from Maoist menace before March 2026 (With inputs from ANI)
