A significant encounter between security forces and Naxalites took place on Wednesday in the Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district of Chhattisgarh, resulting in the death of two high-value Naxalites carrying a combined reward of 35 lakh rupees. The incident unfolded in the Banda Hill forest, under the Madanwada police station, during a joint anti-Naxal operation involving the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
The operation was launched on Tuesday night, based on intelligence reports indicating the presence of senior Maoist leaders. On Wednesday afternoon, as the forces were encircling the Banda Hill area near Retegaon village, the Naxalites initiated gunfire amidst heavy rainfall. The security forces responded, and following the encounter, a search yielded the bodies of the two Naxalites.
The deceased were identified as Vijay Reddy, a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, and Lokesh Salame, a member of the Divisional Committee. Reddy had a reward of 25 lakh rupees, and was also wanted in Maharashtra. Salame carried a reward of 10 lakh rupees. Police are actively searching for the remaining Naxal associates. Police sources indicate that Reddy was a key Maoist leader in the Rajnandgaon-Kanker border division, with significant activity in the Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district border area.
This year, the security forces in Chhattisgarh have successfully neutralized 229 Naxalites, with 208 in the Bastar division. The involved districts include Bijapur, Bastar, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Sukma, and Dantewada. District Superintendent of Police Y.P. Singh confirmed the encounter during a search operation, leading to the deaths of the high-ranking Naxalites.