Bijapur, Feb 2 (PTI) – In a major success for security forces, eight senior Naxalites carrying a cumulative bounty of ₹16 lakh were killed in an intense encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Saturday. The anti-Naxal operation, carried out near Todka village under the Gangaloor police station area, also left two personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) injured.
According to senior police officials, the slain Maoists included Kamlesh Neelkanth (24), a key member of the Gangaloor area committee under the West Bastar division, who had a ₹5 lakh reward on his head. Two others, identified as Tati Kamlu and Mangal Tati of the Gangaloor Local Organization Squad (LOS), carried ₹3 lakh bounties each.
The remaining five—Lachchu Potam (40), Shankar Tati (26), Raju Tati, Vijju Padam (22), and Sannu Tati (40)—were actively involved in various Maoist operations and had ₹1 lakh rewards each.
Security forces recovered a significant cache of arms and explosives from the encounter site, including one Insas rifle, a Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL) with 10 shells, two 12-bore rifles, four muzzle-loading rifles, and other explosive materials.
Just last month, a major offensive in Gariaband district, part of the Raipur division, resulted in the killing of 16 Naxalites on January 20-21.
In 2023, security forces had eliminated 219 Naxalites in various encounters across Chhattisgarh, underscoring the intensified crackdown on Maoist activities in the region.
This latest encounter highlights the continued efforts of security forces to weaken the insurgency and restore peace in Naxal-affected areas.
According to senior police officials, the slain Maoists included Kamlesh Neelkanth (24), a key member of the Gangaloor area committee under the West Bastar division, who had a ₹5 lakh reward on his head. Two others, identified as Tati Kamlu and Mangal Tati of the Gangaloor Local Organization Squad (LOS), carried ₹3 lakh bounties each.
The remaining five—Lachchu Potam (40), Shankar Tati (26), Raju Tati, Vijju Padam (22), and Sannu Tati (40)—were actively involved in various Maoist operations and had ₹1 lakh rewards each.
Security forces recovered a significant cache of arms and explosives from the encounter site, including one Insas rifle, a Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL) with 10 shells, two 12-bore rifles, four muzzle-loading rifles, and other explosive materials.
Spike in Anti-Naxal Operations in 2024
With this latest operation, the number of Naxalites killed in the state this year has risen to 49, with 33 of them being neutralized in the Bastar division alone.Just last month, a major offensive in Gariaband district, part of the Raipur division, resulted in the killing of 16 Naxalites on January 20-21.
In 2023, security forces had eliminated 219 Naxalites in various encounters across Chhattisgarh, underscoring the intensified crackdown on Maoist activities in the region.
This latest encounter highlights the continued efforts of security forces to weaken the insurgency and restore peace in Naxal-affected areas.
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