On Tuesday, security forces eliminated three Naxalites, among them a leading commander with a bounty of Rs 25 lakh, in an operation in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.
The gunfight erupted at about 8 am in a woodland near the boundary of Dantewada and Bijapur districts while a group of security forces was conducting an anti-Naxalite mission, a police officer told news agency PTI.
Dantewada’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Rai stated that security personnel launched an anti-Naxalite operation following tips regarding the presence of Naxal cadres in regions near Dantewada and Bijapur districts.
In the aftermath of the encounter, the search operation led to the recovery of three Naxalite bodies, including that of top commander Sudhir, along with weapons.
Security forces recovered an INSAS rifle, .303 rifle, 12 bore rifle and other explosive materials and items were also found from the encounter site.
At first, a Naxalite was recognized as DKSZCM (Dandakarnya Special Zonal Committee Member) Sudhir, also known as Sudhakar or Murali, who lived in Telangana’s Warangal district. The identification process for the other two Maoists was underway.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Kamalochan Kashyap of the Dantewada Range stated that a search is currently underway in the nearby area.
