Senior Maoist leader killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh
BIJAPUR: A senior Maoist leader carrying Rs 40 lakh bounty was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Thursday, official sources said.
According to the sources, Maoists' Central Committee member Gautam alias Sudhakar was gunned down in the latest gunfight, which comes days after CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju was killed by security forces in the Bastar region, dealing a major blow to the armed movement.
However, Sudhakar's death is yet to be officially announced.
The exchange of fire broke out in the forest of Indravati National Park area when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation based on inputs about the presence of senior cadres, a senior police official posted in Bastar Range told PTI.
Personnel belonging to the Special Task Force, District Reserve Guard, both units of the Chhattisgarh police, and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action - an elite unit of CRPF) were involved in the operation, he said.
The offensive was launched based on inputs about the presence of Maoist leader Sudhakar, Telangana State Committee member Bandi Prakash, Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) member Pappa Rao, and a few other armed cadres, the official said.
"Preliminary reports suggest a strong possibility of major success for security forces in the operation," he said.
Search operations were still underway in the area and more details will be shared later, he added.
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Rahul Gandhi should definitely listen to it; he will automatically find the answer to the first part of his article. From 1950 until a new law was enacted, your Congress government directly appointed the Chief Election Commissioner! Out of 26 commissioners to date, 25 were directly appointed by the central government. For the first time, the Honourable Modi ji established a committee that includes the Leader of the Opposition or the leader of the largest political party. But it seems you do not approve of this step, which strengthens democracy and was a principle never followed during your time. Rahul Gandhi's second objection is the increase in the number of voters, whom he calls 'bogus voters.' He objects that 31 lakh voters were added in five years and further claims that 41 lakh were added in five months. The number of young voters is constantly increasing. Of these 40,81,229 voters, 26,46,608 were young voters. Regarding the process of new voter registration, the involvement of political parties, and the hearing procedures, the Election Commission sent a detailed 60-page letter to your party's law, human rights, and RTI department's lawyer, Omar Hoda, on December 24, 2024, addressing all these questions. If it has not reached you, please get a copy and read it. Furthermore, you should also review some old data. Between 2014 and 2019, 63 lakh new voters were added; from 2009 to 2014, 75 lakh new voters were added; and from 2004 to 2009, 1 crore new voters were added. This means that nothing extraordinary happened in 2024. If you want the data on how the number of voters increased in between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, here it is: In 2004, a 5 per cent more in the Assembly elections from the Lok Sabha polls. In 2009, 4 per cent more; in 2014, 3 per cent more; in 2019, 1 per cent more; and in 2024, 4 per cent more. So again, nothing new happened in 2024. 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But if you continue to insult the mandate of Maharashtra's farmers, Ladki Bahin (beloved sisters), common people, and all its citizens in this manner, the people of Maharashtra will never forgive you. As the Chief Minister, and as their sevak, I will always condemn this insult to the people of Maharashtra! The writer is the Chief Minister of Maharashtra
