The 9 Naxalites who were killed by security forces during an encounter in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday were all high ranking cadres and a total reward of Rs 59 lakh was declared on them. Giving information about this on Wednesday, a senior police officer said that among the killed Naxalites, Randhir had a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head. He was a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, the strongest organization of the Maoists.
Earlier on Tuesday, nine uniformed Naxalites, including six women, were killed in an encounter with security personnel on the Dantewada-Bijapur district border during an anti-Naxal operation. Regarding this encounter, Bastar Range IG (Inspector General of Police) Sundarraj P. told PTI that this operation has given a big blow to the Maoists’ Western Bastar and Darbha divisions, which are considered to be the influential organization of Naxalites in this area. He said that despite facing challenging geographical conditions during the monsoon, the security forces successfully carried out the operation and caused damage to the Maoists in their stronghold.
A reward of Rs 25 lakh was announced on a Naxalite
The IG said that the operation against the Naxalites on Tuesday involved the District Reserve Guard, Bastar Fighters and the 111th and 230th battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Sundarraj said Randhir was a member of the Maoists’ DKSZC and had a reward of Rs 25 lakh declared on his head. He said that he is the second DKSZC member killed in an encounter with security personnel this year. Earlier in April, DKSZC member Joganna was killed in an encounter with security forces in Narayanpur district of Bastar division. DKSZC handles the activities of Maoists in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh as well as in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and parts of Maharashtra.
A reward of Rs 5 lakh each was announced on six Naxalites
The IG said that the six other Naxalites killed were Army Platoon member Kumari Shanti, Area Committee members Sushila Madkam, Gangi Muchaki and Kosa Madvi, Divisional Security Dalam member Lalita and Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) guard Kavita, all of whom had a reward of Rs 5 lakh each on their heads. The police officer said that apart from these, Naxalites Hidme Madkam and Kamlesh had a reward of Rs 2 lakh each on their heads.
After the encounter on Tuesday, one SLR (self-loading rifle), one .303 rifle, two 12-bore rifles, one 315 bore rifle, one 8 MM rifle, one BGL (barrel grenade launcher) and explosives, daily use items and other material belonging to the Maoists were recovered from the spot.
The IG said that so far this year, 153 Naxalites have been killed in different encounters in Bastar division. Also, during this period, 669 Naxalites have been arrested in the division and 656 have surrendered before the police. Bastar division includes seven districts Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada and Sukma.
