Three Maoists killed in Sukma encounter as security crackdown intensifies

Three Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in a forested area at Tumalpad in Sukma district on Sunday after a planned operation based on inputs about their movement. The firefight lasted intermittently, and the bodies of three rebels, including two women, were recovered. A .303 rifle, barrel grenade launchers, other weapons, and explosives were seized at the scene. The deceased were identified as Madvi Deva, Podiam Gangi, and Sodhi Gangi, with Deva described as a sniper specialist allegedly involved in civilian killings. The operation underscores the ongoing push by security agencies to curb Maoist activity in the region.

Police said a search operation is underway in areas adjoining the encounter site. Officials have described the Maoist movement in the Bastar region as being in its final stage and have urged cadres to surrender and join the government rehabilitation programme. The Union government has reiterated its target of eliminating the Maoist insurgency from the country by March 2026.

In a broader context, police data show 262 Maoists have been killed in Chhattisgarh so far this year, while nearly 300 have surrendered in the state in the last month. Earlier, top Maoist Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi and about 60 others laid down arms in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, signaling a shift in the armed group’s dynamics in different states.

As security forces press ahead with counter-insurgency operations, residents in rural Bastar regions hope for greater stability and a return to normal life. The latest encounter adds to a string of such operations as authorities pursue the long-term aim of peace and security in central India.

Cover image source: 3 Maoists killed after encounter breaks out in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma 🔗

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