Two Naxalites including a woman carrying a cash reward of Rs 14 lakh each were shot down at Newarwahi village in Balaghat on Tuesday; three Naxalites managed to escape the spot, said DGP VK Singh while addressing media at State Police Headquarters on Wednesday.
DGP Singh said that in a joint operation by Hawkforce and district police two Naxals were gunned down in the night on Tuesday.
After receiving information of five Naxalities in the area recce of the area was done and it was confirmed that Naxalities were at a house and were scheduled to meet in the night.
Based on the information, Hawkforce, SP Balaghat planned the action and 17 personnel of Hawkforce left for the specified place.
Four teams of police were made which surrounded the house having Naxals and when they were told to surrender but they opened fire and in retaliation Hawkforce and other teams opened fire.
In the counter attack two Naxals were shot down while three managed to escape in the dark. Security personnel had a face-off with armed Naxals which resulted in the gun battle.
The gunned down Naxals were identified as Ashok alias Mangesh (21) of Rajnandgaon Chattishgarh.
He was Area Committee Member of Tanda Raipur. One SLR rifle, 3 magazine, two wireless sets, mobile phone charger, torch, calculator and Rs 10720. The woman Naxal was identified as Nande (19) of Bastar Chattishgarh She was Area Committee Member of Tanda Raipur, a 315 bore rifle, 13 rounds, umbrella, knife, needle and thread were recovered from her.
The two were active in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Balaghat. The Chattisgarh government declared Rs 5 lakh each, Maharashtra government declared Rs 6 lakh each and Madhya Pradesh government declared Rs 3 lakh each on the gunned Naxals.