New Delhi: A Naxalite with a history of nearly thirty years of activity in the banned Maoist group and carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, as confirmed by a senior police official on Thursday, reported by PTI.
The encounter happened on Wednesday in a forested terrain straddling Gondpalli, Parlagatta, and Badepalli villages along the border of Dantewada and Sukma districts, where a joint security team was engaged in an anti-Naxal operation.
According to the news agency PTI, while addressing the media in a press briefing, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai said that the operation was initiated based on intelligence regarding the presence of Naxalites in the inter-district border area. He further highlighted that upon cessation of gunfire, the body of a Naxalite identified as Chandranna, also known as Satyam, was discovered. A country-made pistol, four live rounds, and other paraphernalia associated with Maoist activities were also recovered.
Chandranna, hailing from Golapalli in Sukma district, had been an integral part of the outlawed group for over three decades, involved in numerous instances of Naxal violence, Rai added.
Formerly holding the position of a divisional committee member in the Mad division of the Maoist organisation before 2013, Chandranna had more recently been active in the Jagargunda region of the South Bastar division, the SP noted, highlighting that he was carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakh.
Additionally, Gaurav Rai confirmed that the operation saw the participation of personnel from the District Reserve Guard and Bastar Fighters – both units of the state police – along with the 231st battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
According to the news agency ANI, a few days back on Jan 30, a ruthless gun battle erupted after the Naxalites gunned down three security personnel in Dantewada. The exchange of fire began at a time when a troop of soldiers from the 201 battalions of the CoBRA and the 150 battalions of the CRPF personnel was working in the area to establish a Forward Operating Base (FOB). Additionally, Fourteen security personnel were also injured at the spot of the gunfight in Bijapur district.