DANTEWADA: The encounter took place on the night of March 4 in a remote, hilly and forested stretch between the villages of Gumlanar, Girsapara and Nelgoda, which fall under the jurisdiction of Geedam police station in Dantewada district. Security forces had launched a search operation in the area after receiving intelligence inputs indicating that cadres of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) had hidden arms and logistical supplies in the dense forests along the Dantewada–Bijapur border.
The joint search team included personnel from the District Reserve Guard and the Bastar Fighter Force, both of which are specially trained units engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the Bastar division. The operation was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Naxal Operations) Rahul Kumar Uyke and supervised by Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai.
Maoists Open Fire During Search Operation
According to police officials, the security team entered the forest area during the night and began combing operations in suspected Maoist hideouts. Between 8:30 pm and 9 pm, the team reportedly encountered a group of eight to ten armed Maoists belonging to the Bhairamgarh Area Committee.
Police said the Maoists allegedly ambushed the security personnel and opened indiscriminate fire using automatic weapons. The sudden attack forced the security forces to take defensive positions. Officers stated that the personnel initially attempted to persuade the Maoists to surrender.
However, the rebels continued firing, prompting the forces to retaliate in self-defence. This led to a brief but intense exchange of gunfire inside the forested terrain.
Maoists Retreat Under Pressure
Facing sustained counter-fire from the security forces, the Maoist group eventually retreated from the area. Taking advantage of the darkness and dense vegetation, the remaining insurgents managed to escape deeper into the forest.
Following the exchange of fire, the security personnel conducted a thorough search of the encounter site to assess the outcome of the operation and ensure that no insurgents remained hidden in the vicinity.
During the search operation, the body of one Maoist was recovered from the site. Police identified the deceased as Rajesh Punem, a member of the Bhairamgarh Area Committee of the CPI (Maoist). He was a resident of Burji village under the Gangaluur police station limits in Bijapur district.
Authorities confirmed that Punem had a bounty of Rs 5 lakh declared against him due to his alleged involvement in several Maoist activities in the region.
Weapons and Equipment Recovered
Security forces also seized a cache of arms and ammunition from the encounter site. Among the recovered items were one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), one INSAS rifle, a pistol with a magazine, a walkie-talkie communication set, several magazines and multiple live and empty cartridges.
Officials said the recovery of weapons and communication equipment indicates that the Maoists were using the area as a temporary operational base.
After the encounter, security forces carried out precautionary tactical procedures, including Road Opening Party (ROP) checks and area domination exercises. These measures were undertaken to ensure the safety of the personnel and to detect possible improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which are often planted by Maoists to target security forces during follow-up operations.
All personnel involved in the operation later returned safely to the district headquarters in Dantewada.
Police officials said the encounter is part of a broader push by the central and state governments to curb Maoist activity in the Bastar region. The Centre has reportedly set a target to significantly weaken Maoist networks in the region by March 31 through sustained security operations and intelligence-based missions.
Authorities reiterated that anti-Naxal operations will continue across Bastar to dismantle Maoist strongholds and ensure the return of peace, development and normalcy in the insurgency-affected districts of Chhattisgarh.
