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India Today
07-07-2025
- India Today
Top Naxal leader with Rs 8 lakh bounty on head killed in Chhattisgarh
A senior Maoist leader, Sodhi Kanna, with a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on served as the Deputy Commander of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No 1 and 2 and was shot dead in the Indravati National Park was a trained sniper and close aide of top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma. His body was recovered along with a .303 rifle, a large cache of explosives including codex wires, safety fuses and Also, a set of Maoist uniforms, Maoist literature, a radio along with several daily use items were recovered from the site of the encounter. The joint operation, which began on July 4, involved multiple security units, including the District Reserve Guards (DRG) of Bijapur and Dantewada, the Special Task Force (STF), CoBRA battalions 202 and 210, and the CRPF's Young Platoon.'In the past 18 months (2024–25), security forces have neutralised 415 hardcore Maoists across Bastar. Operations continue with high intensity even during the monsoon season, despite rough terrain and adverse weather conditions. Forces like DRG, STF, CoBRA, CRPF, and others are maintaining strong momentum,' said Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police, Bastar to intelligence inputs, the area was confirmed to be a stronghold of armed Maoist groups, including the Telangana State Committee, the National Park Area Committee, and the PLGA's Battalion No. security forces engaged in intermittent firefights with Maoist cadres over several days before recovering Kanna's body and arms.- EndsTrending Reel
Hindustan Times
07-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Top Maoist sniper killed in Bijapur during anti-naxal operation: Police
Raipur: A top Maoist cadre, identified as Sodhi Kanna, deputy commander and sniper in the outlawed CPI (Maoist)'s armed unit—People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 1, in an encounter with security forces on Saturday. The Maoist sniper's body was recovered following a fierce gunbattle. (Representational image) The Chhattisgarh police on Monday said the encounter took place on Saturday in the dense forests of the Indravati National Park in Bijapur district, a well-known Maoist stronghold, where a joint team of security personnel had launched a large-scale operation on July 4. Sodhi Kanna's body was recovered following a fierce gunbattle with the Maoists. Bijapur superintendent of police (SP) Jitender Kumar Yadav described the operation as a major success in the fight against Left Wing Extremism. 'Sodhi Kanna was the deputy commander of the second company of the PLGA's first battalion, headed by the notorious Maoist leader Madvi Hidma, currently the only active central committee member (CCM) of the CPI (Maoist) in the region,' Yadav said. Kanna, who also functioned as a trained sniper, had a reward of ₹8 lakh announced on his head by the Chhattisgarh government. He was known to be an expert marksman and played a key role in several major Maoist attacks and was close to Madvi Hidma. He was operating extensively in the Tekalgudiyam area and had also participated in an attack on the Dharmaram security camp. The encounter involved a joint operation comprising the District Reserve Guard (DRG) units of Bijapur and Dantewada, the Special Task Force (STF), CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), and the Young Platoon of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). 'The operation was launched on the basis of specific intelligence inputs indicating the presence of armed Maoist cadres, including members of the Telangana State Committee, the National Park Area Committee, and PLGA Battalion No. 1 in the region,' SP Yadav said. Kanna's killing, he added, has dealt a significant blow to the Maoist outfit, particularly in terms of its sniper capabilities. 'His elimination is a severe setback for the Maoists. He was a highly skilled sniper and a trusted operative in Hidma's battalion,' Yadav noted. Bastar Range inspector general of police, Sundarraj P, lauded the relentless efforts of the security personnel. 'Despite the challenges posed by the monsoon—heavy rains, treacherous forest terrain, and slippery mountain paths—our forces have continued their operations deep within Maoist territory. This success reflects the commitment, courage, and unwavering vigilance of our troops,' IG said. He added that all security wings—DRG, STF, CoBRA, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CAF, and Bastar Fighters—have been working in close coordination to maintain pressure on Maoist formations in the interior forest regions. With this latest success, the total number of suspected Maoist cadres neutralised in Chhattisgarh has now reached 415 in the past 18 months, as security forces continue their most aggressive and sustained offensive against Maoist insurgency in recent years.
Hans India
07-07-2025
- Hans India
Maoist sniper with Rs 8 lakh bounty killed in Chhattisgarh encounter
Raipur: In a significant development in the ongoing anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, a senior Maoist commander identified as Sodhi Kanna was killed during a joint offensive by security forces in the National Park area, police confirmed on Monday. The encounter occurred on July 5, following the launch of a large-scale operation a day earlier based on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of senior Maoist leaders and their armed cadres, police said. Kanna, who held the rank of deputy commander in company No. 02 of PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) battalion No. 01 and was also a CYPM/DVCM (divisional committee member), carried a bounty of Rs 8 lakh under the state government's surrender and rehabilitation policy, said the police officials. His body was recovered from the encounter site, along with a .303 rifle, during a sweep of the area by the joint team comprising DRG (District Reserve Guard) units from Bijapur and Dantewada, the STF, CRPF's Cobra 202 and 210 battalions, and the Young Platoon. Kanna had a long history of involvement in major insurgent activities, including the Tekalgudiyam encounter and the attack on the Dharmaram camp. He was also known to have operated in close coordination with Madvi Hidma and served as a skilled sniper within the PLGA battalion -- a role that made his elimination a tactical setback for Maoist operations in the region. Officials believe the operation disrupted a high-level Maoist gathering, possibly involving Telangana State Committee member Bandi Prakash and National Park Area Committee leaders like Dilip Bendja alias Sukku, Bhima Kovasi alias Situ, and Mohan Kadti. Multiple exchanges of fire occurred as security forces moved through the forested terrain in search of these cadres. A substantial cache of arms, ammunition including a .303 rifle with five live rounds, an AK-47 magazine with 59 live rounds, a Maoist uniform, codex wire, safety fuses, detonators, a Naxalite pouch and rucksack, a radio set, Maoist literature, daily-use items, explosive components and other communication devices, was also recovered from the site. The combing operation continues across the rugged landscape, as forces remain vigilant for further insurgent movement in the area.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Time of India
Major blow to Maoist network: PLGA Battalion-1 sniper carrying Rs 8L bounty on head gunned down in Chhattisgarh encounter; arms and explosives recovered
RAIPUR: The Maoist killed in an encounter by security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Saturday, was identified as top rank deputy commander and sniper of PLGA battalion number 1, who carried a cash reward of Rs eight lakh on his head. Police confirmed that Kanna had a notorious record in the region. A native of Tekulgudium located on Bijapur borders, he had been involved in multiple major attacks. He was also known to be a close associate of Maoist central committee member Madvi Hidma, one of India's most wanted Maoist leaders. Police said that security forces in Chhattisgarh scored a significant victory against Maoist insurgents over the weekend with the killing of Sodhi Kanna, a top-rank Maoist Deputy Commander and sniper of PLGA Battalion number one, Company number two. Kanna, who carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, was killed during a prolonged anti-Naxal operation in the dense forest region of the Indravati National Park area in Bijapur district of Bastar division. The operation, which began on July 4, was a coordinated effort involving teams from DRG Bijapur, DRG Dantewada, STF, CoBRA 202, CoBRA 210, and CRPF. Acting on intelligence inputs indicating the presence of cadres from Telangana State Committee, National Park Area Committee, and PLGA Battalion number one, the forces launched a strategic search mission. According to Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav, multiple intermittent gun battles occurred over the course of the operation. Following a fierce exchange of fire, the body of Sodhi Kanna, dressed in Maoist combat uniform, was recovered along with a .303 rifle, five live rounds, and a significant cache of explosives and insurgency-related material. Items recovered from the encounter site include one .303 rifle, five live cartridges, a magazine of AK-47 with 59 rounds, one set of Maoist uniform, detonators, codex wires, safety fuses, communication radios, Maoist literature, and various daily-use items typically carried in Naxal pithus (backpacks). As a trained sniper, Kanna played a crucial role in the battalion's armed wing, and his death is seen as a serious blow to the Maoist organization's operational capabilities in the region. Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), P Sundarraj, called the operation a continuation of the momentum achieved in 2024, stating that 415 hardcore Maoists have been eliminated over the past 18 months. 'These figures reflect the strength of strategic planning, the bravery of our forces, and the growing support from local communities,' he said. He also emphasized the perseverance and dedication of the security forces operating under harsh conditions, including heavy monsoon rains, slippery forest terrain, and shifting weather. Units such as the DRG, STF, CoBRA, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CAF, and Bastar Fighters have shown unwavering commitment in executing missions even in the most challenging phases of the year.
News18
07-07-2025
- News18
Senior Maoist Leader Killed In Joint Security Operation In Chhattisgarh's Bijapur
Last Updated: Sodhi Kanna, who served as a deputy commander in a Maoist organisation, was killed in a joint operation by security forces launched on July 4. The deputy commander of a Maoist group, who carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh, was killed in a joint operation launched by security forces on July 4 in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, dealing a major blow to the Maoist organisation's capabilities. The man was identified as Sodhi Kanna, who served as the deputy commander of Company No. 02 of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 01. He was involved in several major Maoist operations in the Tekalgudium area in Telangana, including an attack on the Dharmaram camp, according to an official statement. The PLGA is linked to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). After Bijapur's Superintendent of Police, Jitendra Yadav, received credible intelligence of Maoist activity in the National Park of the district, a coordinated search operation by security forces involving DRG Bijapur, CoBRA 210 and the CRPF Young Platoon was launched on July 4, according to the statement. As per the intelligence, members of the Telangana State Committee, National Park Area Committee, PLGA Battalion No. 01, and other armed Maoist cadres were active in the region. Intermittent encounters between the Maoist forces and the security personnel began after the operation was launched. Following the operation, a search of the area led to the recovery of the body of an armed Maoist in uniform, a .303 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, a large cache of explosive materials, and other Naxal-related items, including backpacks and Maoist literature, from the encounter site. P Sundarraj, Bastar Inspector General (IG) of Police informed that the bodies of more than 415 Maoists have been recovered over the past 18 months. 'This figure clearly reflects the effective planning, courageous actions, and strong public support behind the efforts of the security forces," he said in a statement. 'It is particularly noteworthy that even during this challenging monsoon season, marked by heavy rainfall and difficult terrain, there has been no let-up in the alertness, commitment, and operational momentum of the security forces. Despite slippery jungle paths, hilly terrains, and constantly changing weather, forces including the DRG, STF, CoBRA, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CAF, and Bastar Fighters are carrying out their missions with unwavering determination," he added. The banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) has been severely weakened after a string of major setbacks, as the strength of its top leadership bodies has been significantly depleted due to the government's pledge to eradicate Naxalism by 2026. First Published: July 07, 2025, 14:15 IST
