A hardcore Maoist Commander was gunned down following a gun battle between security forces and insurgents in a forested patch between Burumpad and Ittanpad villages of restive Sukma district of Bastar, police said on Monday.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sukma, Santosh Singh led the operation with a team comprising STF and DRG Sukma personnel, police informed. The killed Maoist carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh.
The encounter occurred on Sunday (January 17).
Horns and skin of a deer were also seized from the encounter spot, police claimed.
The ASP informed that the team was operating around Kistaram police station for about a week till they finally had an encounter with Maoists in the jungles near villages Burumpad and Ittanpad.
“A fierce encounter ensued and later during the search , dead body of a Maoist in black uniform was recovered along with 4 muzzle guns, 3 pittus, Gunpowder, Codex wires, detonators, Naxal literature, banners, posters and items of daily use with some Naxal uniforms,” he said. The dead Maoist was identified as Kartam Deva resident of village Tumalbhatti under Golapalli police station.
The insurgent was President of Battigudem Revolutionary People's Council (RPC) or Jantana Sarkar of Maoists.
He was also Jan Militia Platoon Commander of that area, the Singh said.
Notably few days back, ASP Bijapur, Kalyan Elesela had led a joint operation with Maharashtra Police and recovered bodies of two Maoists including Punem Mangi lOS Commander of National Park Area Committee of Maoists along with INSAS Rifle, 5 magazines, muzzle guns etc.
According to Singh, with Burumpad and Ittanpad encounter, Bastar Police has recovered 13 dead bodies of Maoists in Bastar range as part of ongoing Mission 2016.