A significant blow has been dealt to Naxalite activities in Chhattisgarh with the elimination of three high-value insurgents in Sukma district. These individuals, carrying a collective reward of Rs 15 lakh, were neutralized in a pre-dawn encounter on Sunday. The operation was launched based on specific intelligence about Maoist movements in the Tumalpad village forest, an area contested by Bhejji and Chintagufa police jurisdictions.
The gun battle resulted in the recovery of the bodies of the three Naxalites, identified as key figures within the Maoist hierarchy. Madvi Deva, a prominent area committee member, Podiam Gangi, commander of the Maoist cultural outfit CNM, and Sodhi Gangi, another area committee member, were among those killed. The presence of two women in the group underscores the complex nature of the insurgency.
Authorities reported a substantial seizure of arms and explosives from the encounter site, including BGLs and various firearms. The Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, noted that ongoing search operations are yielding results and pressuring remaining insurgents. This successful operation adds to a growing tally for the year, with security forces having neutralized 233 Naxalites in the Bastar region so far. The government’s objective to eliminate Naxalism by next year remains a top priority.