Two Maoists, members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces on Tuesday evening in the dense jungles between Chhattisgarh’s Kondagaon and Narayanpur districts.
The operation, executed by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters, was based on intelligence reports about the presence of armed insurgents.
The deceased, identified as East Bastar Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) Haldar and Area Committee Member (ACM) Rame, had been on the police’s wanted list with bounties of ₹8 lakh and ₹5 lakh, respectively. Authorities confirmed that an AK-47 rifle and explosive materials were recovered from the site.
This latest encounter raises the number of Maoists killed in anti-insurgency operations this year to 140, with 123 of them from the Bastar region. The Chhattisgarh government had previously declared Kondagaon and Bastar districts as “Naxal-free,” a statement reaffirmed during discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in December.
Officials continue to monitor insurgent movements in Maoist strongholds, signalling a sustained crackdown on extremist elements in the region.