The encounter took place in the dense forests of the Abujhmad region of Narayanpur district, where two Central Committee members of the banned CPI (Maoist), Katta Ramachandra Reddy and Kadri Satyanarayan Reddy, were killed
The bodies of the Maoists have been recovered from the spot. Representational Pic
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday hailed a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against Naxalism, announcing that two senior Maoist leaders were neutralised in a joint operation by security forces along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border.
The encounter took place in the dense forests of the Abujhmad region of Narayanpur district, where two Central Committee members of the banned CPI (Maoist), Katta Ramachandra Reddy and Kadri Satyanarayan Reddy, were killed, reported news agency PTI.
“Our security forces are systematically dismantling the top leadership of the Naxals, breaking the backbone of red terror,” Shah posted on X (formerly Twitter), praising the forces for their continued success.
According to a senior Chhattisgarh Police officer, the operation began early on Monday based on intelligence inputs about the Maoist movement in the area. A gun battle broke out when the forces reached the suspected hideout.
“Two male Maoists were killed, and their bodies recovered from the spot," the officer said.
Security forces recovered an AK-47 rifle, an INSAS rifle, a barrel grenade launcher (BGL), a large cache of explosives, Maoist literature, and other materials from the site.
Both commanders were natives of Karimnagar, Telangana, and had been active for over three decades, allegedly masterminding numerous deadly attacks on security forces and civilians in Bastar. Each carried a reward of Rs 40 lakh on their heads in Chhattisgarh.
“These killings mark a significant blow to the Maoist leadership,” said IG Bastar Range Sundarraj P, noting that police remain committed to counter-insurgency efforts despite challenging terrain and weather. He urged remaining militants to surrender and take advantage of the government’s rehabilitation policy, reported PTI.
With this operation, the number of Naxals killed in Chhattisgarh this year has risen to 249: 220 in Bastar, 27 in Gariaband, and two in Durg division. On September 11, 10 Naxals, including Central Committee member Modem Balakrishna, were killed in a major encounter in Gariaband.
Chhattisgarh: 12 Naxals carrying Rs 18 lakh bounty surrender
Earlier, on September 18, twelve Naxals, including five women, carrying a total bounty of Rs 18 lakhs, surrendered before the police in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district. 12 Naxals carrying a total bounty of Rs 18 lakhs have surrendered today. The 12 Naxals include five women and seven men. Two of them were ECMs in their naxal outfit in Indravati and East Bastar areas," Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Robinson Guria told.
The SP stated that under the surrender policy, the surrendered Naxals are given Rs 50,000 each, and their identification documents are made so that they get the benefits of government schemes. According to Narayanpur SP Guria, one of the surrendered Naxals belonged to Platoon 16, whose commander was neutralised in the last operation. The SP stated that the Naxals surrendered due to the government's surrender policy and increasing pressure from ongoing anti-Naxal operations.
(With inputs from PTI)
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