Security Forces Eliminate Maoist Insurgent in Chhattisgarh

Maoist Encounter in Dantewada

Dantewada, March 5: Security personnel engaged in a significant confrontation with Maoist insurgents have successfully neutralized an armed member of the group in the rugged forested area along the Dantewada-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh, as reported by police officials on Thursday.

The insurgent has been identified as Rajesh Punem, a member of the Bhairamgarh area committee, who was subject to a government bounty of five lakh rupees.

Following careful tactical maneuvers to avoid potential IEDs or ambushes, the body and seized materials were transported back to the Dantewada district headquarters, with road opening teams and area control measures in effect, according to officials.

The operation commenced on March 3 after police received credible intelligence regarding a concealed cache of weapons and 'Naxalite' materials in the hilly regions between the villages of Gumlanar, Girsapara, and Nelgoda, under the jurisdiction of Geedam police station.

A combined team of the District Reserve Guard and Bastar Fighters set out around 12:30 PM.

While conducting thorough searches and securing the surrounding forest, the team was unexpectedly met with heavy gunfire from 8 to 10 armed Maoists affiliated with the Bhairamgarh Area Committee.

The Maoists, lying in ambush, unleashed a barrage of fire from illegal automatic weapons, aiming to overpower the police unit and seize their firearms.

In response, the security forces quickly took cover, issued surrender warnings, and, facing ongoing aggression, executed precise retaliatory fire in self-defense.

This effective counteraction compelled the Maoists to retreat, allowing them to escape into the dense jungle, rugged hills, and encroaching darkness.

A subsequent search of the encounter site yielded the body of a male armed Maoist along with a substantial cache of weapons and related items, including one SLR rifle, one INSAS rifle, a pistol with a magazine, a walkie-talkie set, one SLR magazine, six live SLR rounds, one empty SLR cartridge case, three INSAS magazines, five live INSAS rounds, 18 misfired INSAS rounds, three empty INSAS cartridge cases, five live pistol rounds, one empty pistol cartridge case, and one pouch.

Remarkably, the entire security force returned without any casualties, marking a successful conclusion to the "anti-Naxal" operation, as confirmed by the Dantewada district police.