In a significant operation, security forces in the Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district of Chhattisgarh neutralized two high-ranking Naxalites carrying a total bounty of 35 lakh rupees. The encounter occurred on Wednesday in the Banda hill forest, under the jurisdiction of the Madanwada police station. The joint operation involved the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The operation was launched based on intelligence received on Tuesday night, indicating the presence of senior Maoist leaders in the area. During the afternoon, amidst heavy rainfall, Naxalites initiated gunfire as the forces were cordoning off the Banda hill area near Retegaon village. Security forces retaliated, resulting in the death of the two Naxalites. Following the encounter, a search operation led to the recovery of the bodies.
The deceased Naxalites were identified as Vijay Reddy, a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, and Lokesh Salame, a member of the Divisional Committee. Reddy had a bounty of 25 lakh rupees on his head and was also wanted in the neighboring state of Maharashtra. Salame carried a bounty of 10 lakh rupees. Police are currently searching for the accomplices of the slain Naxalites. According to police sources, Reddy was a prominent Maoist leader in the Rajnandgaon-Kanker border division and was highly active in the area bordering the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.
This operation contributes to the tally of 229 Naxalites killed by security forces in Chhattisgarh this year, with 208 deaths occurring in the Bastar division. The districts included in this list are Bijapur, Bastar, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Sukma, and Dantewada. Superintendent of Police Y.P. Singh confirmed the encounter and the elimination of the high-ranking Naxalites during the search operation.