Maoist carrying bounty of Rs 5 lakh killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma

Raipur: A ₹5 lakh bounty Maoist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Sunday, just two days before the Centre’s March 31 deadline to eliminate Left Wing Extremism.

According to police, the gunfight took place in the forested hills under Polampalli police station limits, where a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was carrying out an anti-Naxal operation based on specific intelligence inputs.

After the exchange of fire, security personnel recovered the body of the Maoist along with a weapon from the spot. The deceased was identified as Muchaki Kailash, a section commander of platoon number 31, who carried a ₹5 lakh reward on his head.

Police said he was involved in several serious incidents, including civilian killings, planting IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), and attacks on security forces.

The encounter is considered significant as it comes close to the Centre’s March 31 deadline to eradicate armed Naxalism from the country.

Bastar Range IG Sundarraj Pattilingam stated that the window for surrender and rehabilitation for Maoist cadres is in its final phase, urging them to abandon violence and return to the mainstream for a peaceful life.

With this operation, the number of Maoists killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh this year has risen to 27. Earlier, on January 3, 14 Maoists were killed in two encounters in the Bastar region.

In 2025, security forces had neutralised 285 Maoists in encounters across the state.