2 Naxals Carrying Rs 35 Lakh Bounty Killed By Security Forces In Chhattisgarh Encounter
In a major setback to the Naxal movement in Chhattisgarh, security forces killed two senior Maoist commanders during an encounter on Wednesday. The gunfight occurred in the dense forests of Madanwada, located in the newly established Manpur-Mohla-Ambagarh Chowki district.
The slain Naxalites were identified as Vijay Reddy, a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZCM), and Lokesh Salame, a divisional committee member (DVCM). Reddy had a Rs 25 lakh bounty on his head, while Salame carried a Rs 10 lakh reward. Police confirmed that Reddy, originally from Andhra Pradesh, had been active in the Rajnandgaon-Kanker border (RKB) division for over ten years. Salame had previously surrendered but was suspected of covertly working for the Kotri area committee.
The anti-Naxal operation was a collaborative effort between the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the 27th battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The security teams were deployed after receiving specific intelligence about a large gathering of senior Maoist leaders in the Bandapahad region. This area, bordering Kanker district, is known as a training and cache site for Maoist Company No. 5, and was thoroughly cordoned off.
The encounter unfolded late in the afternoon, with heavy rainfall adding to the complexity as security personnel advanced and exchanged fire with the Naxalites. After the firing ceased, the bodies of Reddy and Salame were recovered. The operation represents a significant achievement for security forces in their ongoing battle against Naxalism, with 229 Naxalites reportedly neutralised in Chhattisgarh this year.
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