Maoists confirms 7 more cadres were killed in Oct 4 encounter, toll up to 38: Chhattisgarh cops
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Maoists confirms 7 more cadres were killed in Oct 4 encounter, toll up to 38: Chhattisgarh cops

In a historic operation, security forces eliminated 38 Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, marking the highest fatalities for the group in the state's 24-year history

Two weeks after a significant confrontation in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, police reported that Maoists have acknowledged the deaths of seven additional cadres from the same incident, raising the total death toll to 38. On October 4, security forces engaged in an encounter that resulted in the highest number of fatalities suffered by Maoists in a single operation in the state’s 24-year history. All 38 deceased Naxalites were identified, with their combined rewards totaling Rs 2.62 crore.

During the encounter, which took place in the Abhujmaad area of the forest between Thulthuli and Nendur villages—located along the Narayanpur-Dantewada district border—security personnel recovered the bodies of 31 Naxalites along with a cache of automatic weapons. The operation involved a joint team from the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF).

The East Bastar division of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) confirmed the deaths of seven more members in a statement. They managed to carry away the bodies during the gunfight, according to Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai.

With this confirmation, the total number of Naxalites killed in the encounter has reached 38, and authorities have verified the identities of all individuals. Among them was Niti alias Urmila, a woman member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), which is considered the strongest Maoist formation. She had a reward of Rs 25 lakh on her head and was the fourth DKSZC member killed in encounters this year.

Another significant casualty was Nandu Mandavi, a commander of the West Bastar division of Maoists, who had a reward of Rs 10 lakh. The remaining slain cadres included 22 individuals with rewards of Rs 8 lakh each, nine with Rs 5 lakh each, and three with Rs 2 lakh each.

The 36 identified slain cadres collectively had rewards totaling Rs 2.62 crore and were implicated in over 250 Naxalite-related incidents across Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondgaon, and Bastar districts. Their criminal activities included 61 encounters with police, 11 attacks on police camps, 17 IED blasts, nine incidents of arson, and three attacks on polling booths. These events resulted in the deaths of 28 police officers and 23 civilians, with injuries sustained by 15 security personnel and 26 civilians.

Following the encounter, 29 of the 31 recovered bodies were handed over to their respective families. This year alone, nearly 200 Maoists have been killed in various gun battles throughout the Bastar region, which encompasses seven districts, including Dantewada and Narayanpur. In a prior encounter on April 16, security forces eliminated 29 Naxalites, including several high-ranking cadres, in Kanker district.

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