Malkangiri: A Maoist commander, carrying a cash reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head,was shot dead during an exchange of fire with the security forces in Kutur forest area near Malkangiri border under Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh on Saturday.
The slain militant has been identified as Saybo alias Ranu, commander of the Maoist Farsegarh action team and deputy commander of Farsegarh LOS (local operating squad).
According to reports, a joint team of Bijapur DRG (district reserve guard) and district police force had launched an anti-Naxal operation from Kutur police station on Saturday. During this, the Maoists, on seeing the security personnel, opened fire on them and an encounter began.
In retaliation, the security personnel gunned down the top Maoist leader. However, other Maoists managed to escape.
Police also recovered pistol rounds, arrow bombs from the spot.
Earlier on December 13 last year, two Maoists including a woman cadre had been gunned down during an exchange of fire with the Special Operations Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) personnel at ‘SwabhimanAnchal’ in the district.
