RAIPUR: Two senior cadres of CPI (Maoist), carrying a bounty of Rs 13 lakh, were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Kilam-Bargum forest in Kondagaon district, about 250 km south of Raipur on Wednesday.
“Based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of Maoists at the Kilam-Bargum forest region, a joint team of security forces comprising personnel from District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters was out on the anti-Maoist operation on Tuesday. An encounter broke out between the Maoists and the security forces. Two bodies of Maoists have been recovered so far on Wednesday. The search operation in the area continues”, a senior police officer said.
The two Maoists killed in an exchange of fire were identified as dreaded rebel commander and Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) Haldar Kashyap and Area Committee Member (ACM) Ramey Sori of the East Bastar Division of the banned outfit CPI (Maoist). Haldar and Ramey were carrying rewards of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 5 lakh on their heads respectively, the officer added.
This year, 140 bodies of Maoists have been recovered so far in various encounters in Chhattisgarh, including 124 killed in the Bastar division.
One AK-47, a few arms, explosives and other items were recovered from the encounter spot. There has been no report of any security personnel sustaining injuries in the encounter.
Kondagaon is among the seven Maoist-affected districts of Bastar division in south Chhattisgarh.
Union Home minister Amit Shah has declared that the country will be Maoist-free by March 31, 2026. In this context, the series of encounters against the left-wing extremists remains a part of the renewed strategy to free the Chhattisgarh state from the influence of Maoist.