Six Maoists Killed in Chhattisgarh Encounter; ₹27 Lakh Bounty Uncovered
Six Maoists Killed in Chhattisgarh Encounter; ₹27 Lakh Bounty Uncovered
Security forces clamp down in Bijapur as six Maoists are killed in a forest gunfight, carrying a total bounty of ₹27 lakh including top leaders Urmila and Buchanna Kudiyam.
Six Maoists were gunned down in a gunfight in the forests of Kandulnar and Kachlaram villages in the Indravati National Park area of Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, in what security officials described as a precision operation. The encounter, carried out by District Reserve Guard units with support from CRPF and other security teams, was launched after intelligence indicated the presence of key Maoist leaders in the remote pockets of the forest. The six cadres killed carried a total bounty of ₹27 lakh, officials said, underscoring the high value targets involved in this operation.
Among the slain were Urmila, wife of senior operative Papa Rao, who served as the main logistical handler for the PLGA battalion, and Buchanna alias Kanna, a top planner and executor of major Maoist attacks over the past decade. Security personnel said Urmila, Buchanna and four other cadres were neutralised in the gunfight, while two dozen cadres are believed to have escaped during the ensuing clashes. The dead also include area-based leaders and platoon members identified as Jagat Tamo alias Tamo, who carried a ₹5 lakh bounty, and others with ₹2 lakh rewards each. The operation involved DRG teams from Bijapur and Dantewada, alongside the State STF, built on inputs about the presence of the SZCM Papa Rao and other senior leaders.
The forested region around Indravati National Park has long been a hotbed of anti-state activity, where security forces have repeatedly pressed operations to curb Maoist activity. Officials stressed that counter-insurgency efforts remain vigilant, with patrols and intelligence gathering ongoing to prevent any regrouping or new threats in the area. So far this year, authorities say 144 Maoists have been killed in separate encounters across the region, highlighting the high-stakes nature of this ongoing security campaign.
Cover image source: Six Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh carried total bounty of ₹27 lakh; includes two top ultras 🔗
