In a major success for security forces, three Maoists, carrying a combined reward of ₹14 lakh, were killed during an encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
Kanker Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela stated that the fierce gun battle erupted on a forested hill near Chhindkhadak village, located along the border of Kanker and Gariaband districts. A joint team of security personnel initiated an anti-Maoist operation in the area that morning.
The operation saw the participation of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), an elite unit of the State police from both Kanker and Gariaband, as well as personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF).
Following the intense exchange of fire, the bodies of three Maoists, including one woman cadre, were recovered. Authorities also seized a self-loading rifle (SLR), a .303 rifle, a 12-bore gun, and various other Maoist-related items from the encounter site.
Preliminary identification indicates the deceased as Sarvan Madkam, also known as Vishwanath, the secretary of the Sitanadi/Ravas area committee of the Maoists; Rajesh, or Rakesh Hemla, an area committee member of the Nagari area committee; and Basanti Kunkjam, alias Hidme, a member of the Mainpur-Nuapada protection team.
Official reports confirmed that Madkam had an ₹8 lakh bounty on his head, Hemla ₹5 lakh, and Kunjam ₹1 lakh, highlighting their significance within the Maoist ranks.
Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P., commended the unwavering dedication of the police and security forces. He noted their continuous efforts to protect lives and property, even amidst challenging geographical and harsh weather conditions, aligning with the aspirations of the government and the populace.
The Inspector General urged Maoist cadres to acknowledge the diminishing influence of Maoism and accept that their movement is nearing its end.
He emphasized that this is a critical moment for them to abandon their violent ways and integrate into the mainstream society, taking full advantage of the government’s comprehensive rehabilitation policy.
Sundarraj P. issued a stern warning, stating that any continued engagement in illegal and violent activities would lead to severe repercussions.
This latest operation brings the total number of Maoists neutralized in separate encounters across Chhattisgarh this year to 252. Of these, 223 were eliminated in the Bastar division, which includes seven districts such as Kanker, while 27 were killed in Gariaband, part of the Raipur division.
Additionally, two other Maoists were killed in the Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district, falling under the Durg division.
Just recently, on September 22, two high-ranking cadres, Raju Dada (63), also known as Katta Ramachandra Reddy, and Kosa Dada (67), alias Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy, both Central Committee members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoists), were also killed in an encounter in Narayanpur district, police reported.