Kanker: At least one Maoist was neutralised while a few others sustained bullet injuries in an exchange of fire that broke out between a joint team of security forces and armed cadres of banned CPI (Maoist), police said on Monday, February 2.
“An encounter took place between the forces and the Maoists on Sunday after which body of a male Maoist was recovered from the spot. A SLR (Semi-Loading-Rifle) along with other materials was seized from the encounter site. The identity of the deceased Maoist is being ascertained,” said kanker SP, Kalyan Elesela
“The campaign was launched following inputs of Maoists planning to cause disturbance in the upcoming local bodies elections. 4-5 Maoists have also sustained injuries in the gunfight. The operation is still underway and our personnel are carrying out a search operation in the vicinity. More details are awaited,” he added.
Notably, a joint operation was launched by personnel of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Border Security Force (BSF) in southern areas of Kanker district near Narayanpur border.
The operation was launched after intelligence reports indicated the presence of Maoists from the North Bastar-Maar division in the Kanker-Naryanapur border area. The gunfight broke out at around 12.30 in the afternoon leading to neutralisation of a Maoist cadre.
More than 50 Maoists were neutralised in separate operations carried out by the security personnel in insurgency-hit areas of Chhattisgarh in 2025. Those killed this year includes of Maoist’s Central Committee member Jairam alias Chalpati who was gunned- down during an operation at Kulhari Ghat near Odisha borders on January 20.
The operation at Kulhari Ghat was launched days after a joint team of security forces neutralised as many as 18 Maoist cadres in Kanker Pujari village of Bijapur. The Maoist’s fatalities in the Kanker-Pujari encounter included of Maoist’s Telangan State in-charge Bade Chokha Rao alias Damodar.
