High-Profile Naxalites Killed in Chhattisgarh Encounter

Two of the three Naxalites killed in a recent encounter in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district were identified as senior cadres with a combined bounty of Rs 41 lakh. One of the deceased, Rupesh, was a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, Maoists' strongest formation. This year, 157 Naxalites' bodies have been recovered.

In a significant development, security forces in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district killed three Naxalites in an encounter, two of whom were identified as senior cadres with bounties totaling Rs 41 lakh. A senior official confirmed the identities of Rupesh, a high-ranking member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), and Jagdish.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P revealed that Rupesh had a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head and was a prominent figure in the Maoists' operations in the Gadchiroli area of Maharashtra. This marks the third instance this year of a DKSZC member being killed in Chhattisgarh. The identity of the third Naxalite, a woman, is yet to be determined.

Security personnel recovered an AK-47 rifle, an SLR, an INSAS rifle, a .12 bore rifle, explosives, and daily-use items from the encounter site. So far in 2020, 157 Naxalite bodies have been recovered following encounters in Bastar, and 663 Naxalites have been arrested, with another 656 surrendering to authorities.