Latest news with #ShrikantPunem
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Maoist with 8L bounty nabbed in Madanwada post encounter
Raipur: A top Maoist commander carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakh was nabbed by security forces in the insurgency-hit Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district of Chhattisgarh, following a fierce encounter in the dense forests of Khursekhurd-Khursekhala in Madanwada region. The Maoist was caught on Wednesday and police revealed the arrest on Thursday. The cadre was identified as Shrikant Punem alias Sukhnam Punem, DVC (Divisional Committee) rank Maoist of outlawed CPI (Maoist) and was serving as commander of the Aundhi-Mohla joint area committee. According to the police, the joint team of DRG and ITBP had launched a coordinated anti-Naxal operation based on credible intelligence inputs about the Maoist's presence in the forested stretch near the twin villages. The search team comprised 27 DRG personnel from Manpur, 30 ITBP jawans from Madanwada led by assistant commandant Balveer Singh (27th Battalion, D Company), and additional forces from ITBP's 44th battalion, stationed at Baseli camp. As the forces advanced from Amatola towards Khursekhurd, Maoists ambushed the patrolling party, opening indiscriminate fire but the troops swiftly retaliated, taking defensive positions and launching a counter-attack. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like We Have No Words For Dog The Bounty Hunter's Transformation Cash Roadster Undo Using the dense forest cover, most Maoists managed to flee, but during the ensuing search, one Maoist was overpowered and arrested. During interrogation, the captured Maoist revealed his identity as Shrikant Punem of Sawanar village of Gangaloor region in Bijapur district. Inspector general of police (IGP), Rajnandgaon range, Abhishek Shandilya and SP Y P Singh said that Punem was booked under sections of Arms Act, and unlawful activities (prevention) Act. Forces also seized arms from his possession including a nine mm ordnance factory-made pistol with magazine and four live cartridges, two empty nine mm shells and three AK-47 empty cartridges, Rs 11,080 cash and Maoist literature. Police stated that this arrest deals a major blow to the Maoist command structure in the region and significantly weakens their operational capabilities in the area. A manhunt is underway in the surrounding forests to track down the fleeing Maoists involved in the attack. Security forces have intensified combing operations in the region. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Two Naxalites carrying collective reward of Rs 11 lakh held in Chhattisgarh
Mohla/Bijapur: Two Naxalites carrying a collective reward of Rs 11 lakh on their heads were arrested from two districts in Chhattisgarh, police said on Thursday. Shrikant Punem was apprehended following an encounter between security forces and Maoists in a forest of Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district at 4pm on Wednesday, the district's Superintendent of Police YP Singh said. The exchange of fire took place in the forest of Khursekhurd village under Madanwada police station limits when a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and 27th and 44th battalions of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was out on a search-cum-area domination operation, he said. The offensive was launched as part of the district police's ongoing 'Operation Prayas' against Naxalites in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, which shares a border with Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, he said. On finding security personnel zeroing on them, the Naxalites escaped into the dense forest, though one of them was rounded up during the search of the area, he said. "Punem hails from Gangaloor area of Bijapur district and was divisional committee member of the Maoists. He was presently heading Aundhi-Mohla joint area committee as its commander. He was carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh. One 9 mm pistol, four live cartridges, one mobile phone, Rs 11,080 cash, and Maoist documents were recovered from his possession," the SP said. The search operation in the area is ongoing to trace the ultras, he added. In separate action, Shankar Kursam (36), a wanted Maoist janmilitia commander, was arrested from the forest between Peddapal and Hirmagunda villages in Bijapur district, a local official said. "A joint team of DRG and CRPF's 85th battalion was involved in this action. Kursam was wanted in several Naxal-related incidents, including triggering an IED blast near Singar Bahar Nala on April 9 this year in which a CRPF jawan was killed and the murder of a civilian in Mankeli village on December 23, 2023," the official said. He was carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head while the Bijapur SP had separately announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for information leading to his arrest, the official added.
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Maoist commander with Rs 8 lakh bounty nabbed in Chhattisgarh
Agency: PTI Raipur, Aug 7 (PTI) Security forces have apprehended a wanted Maoist commander after a brief encounter in the jungles of the Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district of Chhattisgarh, officials said on Thursday. Shrikant Punem (35), who was carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakh, is a divisional committee member (DVCM) operating in the area, they said. He was nabbed on Wednesday evening after a brief encounter in the jungles of Khursekhurd in the said district, about 180 kms from state capital Raipur. A 9mm pistol, some bullets, a mobile phone and cash of Rs 11,080 was recovered from him during a joint operation conducted by the 27th and 44th battalions of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the district reserve guard (DRG) of the state police. Vivek Kumar Pandery, Commandant of the 27th ITBP battalion, and Superintendent of Police Y P Singh addressed the press at the district headquarters and said Punem was a resident of the Bijapur district of the state and joined the Maoist ranks in 2010. The district shares its border with Kanker (Chhattisgarh) and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra and the forces are undertaking operations here as part of the Union government's declaration to end Naxalism from the country by March, 2026. PTI NES KVK KVK (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 07, 2025, 20:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Two Naxalites carrying collective reward of Rs 11 lakh held in Chhattisgarh
Agency: PTI Mohla/Bijapur, Aug 7 (PTI) Two Naxalites carrying a collective reward of Rs 11 lakh on their heads were arrested from two districts in Chhattisgarh, police said on Thursday. Shrikant Punem was apprehended following an encounter between security forces and Maoists in a forest of Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district at 4pm on Wednesday, the district's Superintendent of Police YP Singh said. The exchange of fire took place in the forest of Khursekhurd village under Madanwada police station limits when a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and 27th and 44th battalions of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was out on a search-cum-area domination operation, he said. The offensive was launched as part of the district police's ongoing 'Operation Prayas' against Naxalites in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, which shares a border with Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, he said. On finding security personnel zeroing on them, the Naxalites escaped into the dense forest, though one of them was rounded up during the search of the area, he said. 'Punem hails from Gangaloor area of Bijapur district and was divisional committee member of the Maoists. He was presently heading Aundhi-Mohla joint area committee as its commander. He was carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh. One 9 mm pistol, four live cartridges, one mobile phone, Rs 11,080 cash, and Maoist documents were recovered from his possession," the SP said. The search operation in the area is ongoing to trace the ultras, he added. In separate action, Shankar Kursam (36), a wanted Maoist janmilitia commander, was arrested from the forest between Peddapal and Hirmagunda villages in Bijapur district, a local official said. 'A joint team of DRG and CRPF's 85th battalion was involved in this action. Kursam was wanted in several Naxal-related incidents, including triggering an IED blast near Singar Bahar Nala on April 9 this year in which a CRPF jawan was killed and the murder of a civilian in Mankeli village on December 23, 2023," the official said. He was carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head while the Bijapur SP had separately announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for information leading to his arrest, the official added. PTI COR TKP BNM view comments First Published: August 07, 2025, 19:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
