Woman Maoist killed in Chhattisgarh

A woman Maoist carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district on Monday, police said.

The deceased, identified as Rupi, was an area committee member of the Maoists and is believed to be the last senior Telugu cadre active in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, which comprises seven districts, including Kanker, they said.

The face-off comes 12 days after the Government declared Chhattisgarh free of armed Maoists on March 31. Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, said the Government has been continuously appealing to Maoists to surrender and avail rehabilitation benefits, leading to a significant number opting to return to the mainstream in recent months.