Ratan Kashyap, a notorious Todma Militia Platoon Deputy Commander and Amdai Area Committee Member, who had a bounty of Rs 5.00 lakh on his head, nutralised.

Raipur
In a major triumph against Naxal insurgents, security forces engaged in a fierce firefight with Maoists in the dense forests of Mangnar under the Barsoor police station area. The encounter resulted in the elimination of Ratan Kashyap, also known as Salam, a notorious Todma Militia Platoon Deputy Commander and Amdai Area Committee Member, who had a bounty of Rs 5.00 lakh on his head.
The operation, a joint effort by the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters (BFR) Dantewada, and CRPF 195 Battalion Young Platoon (YP), was launched based on credible intelligence indicating the presence of 10-15 armed Maoists in the Amdai Area Committee.
In the intense firefight, 31-year-old Ratan Kashyap, a resident of Ghotiya, police station Malewahi, district Bastar, was successfully neutralized. The Maoist leader had been involved in various criminal activities, including an IED explosion in 2020 in the Mardum area of district Bastar, leading to the tragic loss of two police personnel. Additionally, he was connected to the murder of a police officer in the same year, with a case registered at the Mardum police station.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai confirmed the success of the operation and underscored Ratan Kashyap’s involvement in heinous crimes. The deceased Maoist faced a long list of charges, including murder, attempted murder, violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and multiple offenses in nine different cases across police stations in Malewahi, Barsoor, Dantewada, and Mardum.
The Chhattisgarh government had previously announced a bounty of Rs 5.00 lakh on Ratan Kashyap, with the Superintendent of Police, Dantewada, offering a reward of Rs 10,000 for information leading to his arrest.
The search operation in the area is ongoing, and further details are anticipated upon the return of the joint security forces team. The successful neutralization of Ratan Kashyap stands as a significant setback to Naxal activities in the region, bolstering the efforts of law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and security.