Chhattisgarh: Two Hardcore Maoists Killed in Encounter in Bastar
Security forces eliminate wanted Maoists carrying a combined bounty of ₹7 lakh in Bijapur jungle operation
Raipur: Two hardcore Maoists carrying a combined bounty of ₹7 lakh were killed in an encounter with security forces on Thursday in a forest area of Bijapur district in South Bastar, Chhattisgarh, police said.
According to officials, the encounter began around 7 am in the Kaurgotta–Gundrajgudem forest under Pamed police station limits and continued intermittently till 8 pm, as per the last reports.
Bijapur Superintendent of Police Dr. Jitendra Kumar Yadav said, “So far, the bodies of two Maoists along with automatic weapons have been recovered from the encounter site. Search operations in the area are still ongoing.”
Police officials stated that a search operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of armed Maoist guerrillas belonging to the Pamed Area Committee in the dense forest. During the operation, security forces came under fire, leading to a prolonged exchange of gunfire.
Intermittent firing was continuing at the encounter site till the last report, police confirmed.
The slain Maoists have been identified as Pradeep alias Joga, a member of the Pamed Area Committee, and Bhima Beko, a party member of the committee. Pradeep was carrying a bounty of ₹5 lakh, while Bhima had a reward of ₹2 lakh on his head.
Police said both were allegedly involved in multiple criminal activities, including the murder of former Kabargatta Panchayat Sarpanch Bhima Madkam.
From the encounter site, security forces recovered an AK-47 assault rifle, a 9 mm pistol, a large quantity of ammunition, and explosives.
Officials noted that the Pamed Area Committee, active in the southern region of Bijapur district, is considered one of the strong and influential units of Maoists operating in the Bastar region.
