Balaghat: Three women Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire that broke out between a joint team of ‘Hawk Force’, a unit specialized in counter-insurgency operation and police in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district on Wednesday, February 19.
The gun battle took place under Garhi police station limits of Balaghat, leading to neutralisation of three women Maoists. The joint team during the operation has also seized an INSAS rifle, SLR rifle and a 303 rifle along with other materials from the encounter site.
Some other Maoists were suspected to be injured in the encounter; the said extremists fled the scene taking advantage of the dense forest. Following the gunfight, a joint team of forces conducted an extensive search operation in the Supkhar forest range.
Meanwhile praising the success achieved by the forces, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said “I congratulate Madhya Pradesh Police. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is running a campaign to eliminate Naxalism from the country by year 2026 and our government is also working seriously in this direction. Today, three female Naxals have been killed in Balaghat and weapons have also been recovered from them. There will be no place for Naxals in our state.”
Continuous operations in proposed MMC zone
It is noteworthy that the police in recent years have tightened their grip in Maoist-affected Balaghat, Mandala and Dindoli districts of the state adjacent to Chhattisgarh border.
Earlier, security forces in a swift operation launched in Kothiya Tola village under the Hatta police station limits of Balaghat had neutralised an Area Committee Member of the banned CPI (Maoist) in July last year.
The slain Maoist was identified as Sohan alias Ukas alias Ayatu, a member of the Kanha-Bhoramdeo division of the banned group. Sohan was carrying a bounty of Rs 14 lakh on his head. He was reported to be an expert in IEDs.
लांजी थाना क्षेत्र के पितकोना-केरझरी के जंगल में घात लगाकर बैठे थे नक्सली, हॉकफोर्स पर की अंधाधुंध फायरिंग, हाॅकफोर्स जवानों ने दिया मुंहतोड़ जवाब pic.twitter.com/SXxCZEcQ9X
— Madhya Pradesh Police (@MPPoliceDeptt) April 2, 2024
In another such operation carried out by the forces in Pitkona Kerjhari forest area under the Lanji police station limits of Balaghat, two senior Maoists cadres carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 43 lakhs were also killed in April 2024. Earlier the forces had gunned down another hardcore Maoist Chaitu in December 2023. Chaitu was carrying a reward of Rs 14 lakh.
Moreover, a Special Zonal Committee Member (SZCM), Ashok Reddy alias Baldev was also arrested by the police. He was carrying a significant bounty of Rs 82 lakh on his head.
It is worth mentioning here that all three Maoist affected districts of MP falls under the Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh (MMC) zone, proposed by the Maoist top rung in the year 2019.
It was then reported that the strengthening presence of security forces in Abujhmad and south Bastar area compelled the extremist group to look for another safe bastion adjoining their decades long strongholds. This led to the proposal of MMC zone, encompassing bordering areas of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
However continuous operations in both Gadchiroli of Maharashtra and bordering areas of MP along with continuation of major campaigns in Abujhmad and south Bastar region has thwarted the Maoist’s plan to evade and establish a safe hideout in the proposed zone.
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