In a significant victory against Maoist insurgency, security forces gunned down 17 Maoists, including a top commander carrying a bounty of ₹25 lakh, in an encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Saturday. The operation, based on intelligence inputs, took place in the Kerlapal area, where a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) engaged in a fierce gun battle.
The killed Maoist commander has been identified as Jagdish alias Budhra, a key accused in the deadly 2013 Jhiram Valley attack, which claimed the lives of at least 25 people, including then Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel and other senior party leaders.
Encounter Details and Casualties
According to officials, the encounter broke out early in the morning when security forces launched an operation in the Maoist-dominated area.
- Seventeen Maoists were killed in the encounter.
- Two DRG personnel sustained injuries but are reportedly in stable condition.
- A large cache of weapons, including AK-47s, self-loading rifles (SLRs), INSAS rifles, .303 rifles, rocket launchers, BGL launchers, and explosives, were recovered from the site.
The bodies of the slain Maoists have been retrieved, and authorities are working on identifying them.
Maoist Commander Jagdish Was on Security Radar for Years
Maoist leader Jagdish alias Budhra, the commander of the Darbha division, was a top-ranking rebel wanted for multiple deadly attacks on security forces and political leaders.
- He played a key role in the 2013 Jhiram Valley ambush, where senior Congress leaders were killed.
- He was also allegedly involved in the 2023 Aranpur attack, which led to the deaths of several DRG personnel.
- Security agencies had been tracking his movements for years, and his elimination is being hailed as a major breakthrough in the fight against Maoist insurgency.
Intensified Crackdown on Maoists
Saturday’s encounter is part of an ongoing intensified crackdown on Maoists across the Bastar region.
- On Tuesday, security forces killed three Maoists, including Sudhir alias Sudhakar, another senior leader with a bounty of ₹25 lakh.
- In the past ten days, starting March 20, a total of 49 Maoists have been eliminated in multiple operations.
- Officials believe more Maoists may have been killed or injured during Saturday’s encounter, and combing operations are underway in nearby forest areas.
Security Forces on High Alert
With Maoist activity still prevalent in several regions of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana, security forces remain on high alert. The government has vowed to continue its offensive against the insurgents and eliminate key leaders responsible for orchestrating attacks against security personnel and civilians.
Search Operations Continue
Authorities are continuing search and combing operations in the dense forests of Sukma to track down any surviving insurgents. With the elimination of top commanders like Jagdish and Sudhir, security forces are hopeful that Maoist influence in the region will weaken significantly.
This latest success marks another step in the government’s mission to eradicate Maoist insurgency from central India and ensure the safety and development of affected regions.
Sources By Agencies
