Top Maoist Leader Among Two Killed in Chhattisgarh Gunbattle
Chhattisgarh, September 17, 2025 — In a crucial counter-insurgency breakthrough, security forces neutralized two Maoist rebels, including a high-ranking leader, during an intense encounter in the jungles of Bijapur district. The operation, carried out near the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border, also led to the recovery of sophisticated weapons, explosives, and critical Maoist documentation, officials said.
The gunbattle erupted on Tuesday evening following a large-scale joint operation involving the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Chhattisgarh police, CoBRA commandos of the CRPF, and Maharashtra’s elite C-60 force. Acting on pinpoint intelligence, the forces cordoned off a suspected Maoist hideout in the remote Tekmeta forest under the Farsegarh police station limits.
How the Operation Unfolded
According to senior police officials, security personnel were conducting a planned combing operation when they encountered a group of Maoists believed to be operating from a temporary forest camp. On being challenged, the rebels opened fire, triggering a heavy exchange of gunfire that lasted for nearly an hour.
After the firing subsided, forces searched the area and discovered the bodies of two Maoists. They also seized an SLR (Self-Loading Rifle), a barrel grenade launcher, and a large cache of ammunition and explosives. Authorities believe this cache was meant for future attacks in the Bastar region, especially with heightened Maoist activity in recent weeks.
“This is a major success. One of the deceased Maoists has been identified as a senior female cadre with significant involvement in recent Maoist activities across three states,” said Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), during a press briefing.
Senior Maoist Leader Neutralized
One of the rebels killed was Kanthi Lingavva alias Anitha, a notorious Maoist leader who served as a Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) of the CPI (Maoist). She had been active in the border areas of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Telangana. Multiple states had issued rewards for her capture — ₹16 lakh from Maharashtra and ₹5 lakh from Telangana, according to official sources.
Anitha was reportedly responsible for several attacks on security forces and had a long history of involvement in violent Maoist operations, including ambushes, IED blasts, and the recruitment of youth into insurgency.
Security experts believe that eliminating a leader of her stature will impact the organizational capabilities of Maoists in the area. “She wasn’t just a fighter — she was a key planner. Her death will create a leadership vacuum,” said a former police official who had tracked Maoist activities in the region.
The second Maoist killed is yet to be formally identified. Police suspect he may be part of a new recruitment batch operating under Anitha’s command.
Injured Maoist Captured Alive
In addition to the two Maoists killed, one male cadre was apprehended alive from the encounter site. Identified as Lachhmayya Kuchha Weladi (28), a resident of Tekmeta near the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, he sustained bullet injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Maharashtra under heavy security.
Police said Weladi is providing useful information on Maoist camps operating in the inter-state border region.
Weapons, Explosives, and Intel Recovered
The site yielded significant Maoist assets:
- 1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR)
- 1 Barrel Grenade Launcher
- Dozens of live rounds and grenade shells
- Detonators and locally made explosives
- Maoist literature and propaganda material
- Tactical maps and training notes
Officials say that the seizure of such material is often as valuable as the neutralization of cadres. “These documents can help us track movement patterns, future plans, and even names of new recruits,” said a senior CRPF officer involved in the operation.
The Geography of Conflict
The Tekmeta forest region, located about 10 km from the Maharashtra border, is part of a dense and difficult terrain that has long served as a strategic corridor for Maoists. It connects the conflict-prone Bijapur region of Chhattisgarh to Gadchiroli in Maharashtra and parts of Telangana, making it a favored transit zone for Maoist leaders and armed squads.
Security forces have intensified patrolling in the region, especially after multiple Maoist attacks on road construction projects and police teams in recent months.
“This is a terrain that favors guerilla tactics. We are adapting our strategy to be equally unpredictable,” said a member of the C-60 commando team.
A Pattern of Success for Security Forces
This encounter marks the third major success for security forces in Bijapur this year. In previous operations, multiple Maoist camps were destroyed, and several lower-ranking cadres surrendered, citing disillusionment and fear of constant surveillance.
The Chhattisgarh government has been pushing forward with its Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, offering Maoists the option to lay down arms in exchange for monetary and livelihood support. But officials admit that hardcore leaders like Anitha rarely surrender.
“She was on our radar for years. There were multiple failed attempts. Her death is a culmination of strategic coordination between forces across state borders,” said an official from Maharashtra’s anti-Naxal unit.
Community Response and Caution Ahead
While many in the conflict zone welcome the operation as a move toward peace, there are also concerns about possible Maoist retaliation. Local residents, especially in forest villages, have been advised to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces.
The police have assured that all possible steps are being taken to ensure civilian safety and maintain peace in the area.
“We appeal to villagers not to fall prey to Maoist propaganda. We are here to protect and support peaceful development,” said the SP of Bijapur.
Looking Forward
With the neutralization of a key Maoist leader, the state police and paramilitary units have scored a significant win. However, the battle against Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is far from over. Maoists continue to hold sway in several pockets of south Bastar, using fear, misinformation, and violence to sustain their presence.
The latest encounter has, however, sent a strong message: security forces remain relentless, better coordinated, and increasingly effective in dismantling insurgent infrastructure in India’s Red Corridor.