Chhattisgarh: Six of 8 Maoists killed in Abujhmad carried combined reward of Rs 48 lakh
The encounter also claimed the life of Special Task Force (STF) constable Nitesh Ekka.
Police said that around 3 pm Friday, Maoists opened fire at security forces at different locations in the forests of Bhatbeda-Battekal and Chhotetonbeda. Six of the eight Maoists killed in Saturday’s encounter in Abujhmad in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district were identified on Sunday by police as members of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of the banned CPI (Maoist). They carried a combined reward of `48 lakh, police said.
Abujhmad, an unsurveyed area larger than Goa, has been considered a safe haven for the top Naxal leadership.
“Six of the eight killed cadres were identified as Sudru, Vargesh, Mamta, Samira, Kosi and Moti, who were active at different capacities in PLGA company no. 1 of the Maoists, and carried a reward of `8 lakh each,” said Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police for Bastar range.
The encounter also claimed the life of Special Task Force (STF) constable Nitesh Ekka.
Ekka’s remains were sent to his home district of Jashpur by helicopter after state honours in Raipur in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
Security forces have undertaken several anti-Naxal operations in Abujhmad over the last four months. Since April, this is the fifth major operation, and a total of 58 Maoists have been killed. With Saturday’s encounter, the number of Maoists killed this year in Chhattisgarh has risen to 136 – the highest since the state was formed in 2000. Ten security personnel and 22 civilians have also been killed.
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