Naxal commander Udham Singh killed in encounter along Chhattisgarh–Telangana border
Raipur
Security forces killed a high-ranking Naxal commander Udham Singh during a fierce gunfight in the dense forests of the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border on Thursday morning. Udham Singh, a Divisional Committee Member (DVCM), carried a bounty of ₹8 lakh and was a key conspirator in the 2021 Tekulgudem ambush, which resulted in the martyrdom of 22 security personnel.
The encounter began around 7:30 am in the Peddagalur forest area of South Bastar. Personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and CRPF’s CoBRA battalion intercepted a group of Maoists during a search operation. The body of Udham Singh and an AK-47 rifle were recovered from the spot. Intermittent firing continues as security forces maintain a cordon in the Tarem police station limits.
Udham Singh led Platoon Number 30 and served as the commander of the Jagargunda Area Committee. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier identified him as a key accused in the April 2021 Tekulgudem attack. During the incident, nearly 400 Naxals used Barrel Grenade Launchers (BGLs) and automatic weapons to ambush security forces during the Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC). The insurgents had also looted weapons from the martyred soldiers.
In a significant setback to the outlawed Naxal movement, several Naxals active in North and South Bastar are expected to surrender today. The cadres will lay down arms before Bastar IG P. Sundarraj and Bijapur SP Jitendra Yadav. Some of them were seen carrying copies of the Indian Constitution, indicating a willingness to return to the mainstream.
Earlier, on 16 January, security forces killed four Naxals in an encounter in the Bijapur National Park area, including a woman cadre. Among the deceased was Dilip Vendja, the National Park Area Committee Chief. Two AK-47 rifles were recovered during the operation.
Security agencies across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, and Maharashtra continue to track several top Naxal leaders. Thippiri Tirupati alias Deoji (61), the General Secretary and Politburo member, carries a ₹1 crore reward in Chhattisgarh. Mupalla Laxman Rao alias Ganapathy (74), the former General Secretary, still has a bounty exceeding ₹1 crore. Mishir Besra alias Bhaskar (62), a Politburo member and head of the Eastern Regional Bureau (ERB), also carries a ₹1 crore bounty. Papa Rao alias Mangu (56), a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), is considered a priority target due to his deep knowledge of the Bastar terrain and role in the West Bastar Division Committee.
