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MP’s Hawk Force gun down four Maoists in Balaghat encounter

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who congratulated the team, said that a large cache of weapons and ammunition was seized during the search operation.

Security forces recovered several weapons, "including an SLR, INSAS rifles, .315 bore, and .303 bore rifles, along with other materials." (Representational Image)

Madhya Pradesh’s Hawk Force has killed four suspected Maoists in an encounter in the Supkhar forest region of Balaghat district. All four suspects were women.

Officials said the operation took place Wednesday in the jurisdiction of Garhi police station when Maoists allegedly launched an attack on a search party during a reconnaissance mission.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who congratulated the team, said that a large cache of weapons and ammunition was seized during the search operation. “The police are responding effectively to the remaining Maoists, ensuring their operations are countered with full force,” he said.

Security forces recovered several weapons, “including an SLR, INSAS rifles, .315 bore, and .303 bore rifles, along with other materials.”

“A massive search operation is underway to track down Maoists who managed to escape from the encounter site. Identification of the deceased Maoists will be conducted after the operation concludes,” said a senior official.

According to police officials, the Maoists, “angered by recent setbacks due to intensified security operations, were attempting to target security forces in the Supkhar forest”.

“Intelligence reports indicated increased Maoist presence and activity in the area, prompting the deployment of the Hawk Force for a search mission. During the operation, the Maoists launched a deadly attack on security personnel with the intent to kill and seize their weapons,” the officer said.

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In response, the forces retaliated with controlled firing in self-defence, officials said.

“Overwhelmed by the counteroffensive, several Maoists managed to flee into the dense forests and hilly terrain,” the officer said.

Senior police officers in Balaghat have been leading an aggressive crackdown on Maoist insurgency. At the centre of this thrust is the Hawk Force which has been “executing strategic operations to dismantle Maoist activities in the region.”

Notably, two encounters took place in Mandla district in December 2024, followed by confrontations in Balaghat in January and February 2025.

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In a recent encounter on February 7, 2025, in the Managarh forest of Hatta police station area, security forces seized a powerful Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL)—a long-range lethal weapon—for the first time in the state. Additionally, security forces have uncovered Maoist dumps hidden in the forest, seizing essential supplies, Maoist literature, and explosive materials, thereby striking a blow to their logistical and financial networks. A printing machine used for anti-government propaganda was also recovered.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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