Security forces killed a Maoist carrying a ₹5 lakh bounty during an encounter in the forested border area of Dantewada and Bijapur districts in Chhattisgarh on March 3.
Police identified the slain Maoist as Rajesh Punem, an Area Committee Member (ACM) of the Bhairamgarh area committee. Security personnel recovered an SLR rifle, an INSAS rifle, a pistol and other Maoist-related materials from the site after the exchange of fire.
Police officials said they received intelligence inputs about Maoists storing weapons and materials in the forest and hilly region between Gumalnar, Girsapara and Nelgoda villages under the Gidam police station area. Acting on the information, Dantewada Superintendent of Police directed a search operation in the area.
A team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Rahul Kumar Uyake, along with personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters, moved towards the suspected location to conduct search and cordon operations.
Around 12.30 pm, the team advanced into the forested terrain and began combing the area. Later in the evening, between about 8.30 pm and 9 pm, armed Maoists who had taken positions in the area launched an attack on the security personnel.
Police said around 8 to 10 armed Maoists belonging to the Bhairamgarh area committee opened fire on the team from an ambush position.
Security personnel immediately took positions and returned fire. The exchange of gunfire continued in the forested region as the forces responded to the attack.
Following the counter-fire by the security personnel, the Maoists withdrew from the spot and fled into the dense forest taking advantage of the darkness.
After the firing stopped, the security team conducted a search operation in the surrounding area. During the search, personnel found the body of a male Maoist at the encounter site.
Police later identified the deceased as Rajesh Punem, who served as an Area Committee Member in the Bhairamgarh area committee and carried a reward of ₹5 lakh announced by the authorities.
Security forces also recovered several weapons and materials from near the body. These included an SLR rifle, an INSAS rifle, a pistol, a walkie-talkie set, magazines and a large number of live and empty cartridges.
Seeing the pace of these anti-Naxal operations, the target of wiping out Naxalism before 31 March 2026 seems achievable.
