Madhya Pradesh: Have Four Maoists Been Neutralised in Balaghat?

Synopsis
In a dramatic turn of events, security forces in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district have neutralised four Maoists during a fierce encounter in a dense forest. This significant breakthrough highlights ongoing efforts against insurgency in the region, raising questions about the future of Maoist activities in India.
Key Takeaways
- Four Maoists neutralised in Balaghat during an encounter.
- Operation involved Hawk Force and local police.
- Three female and one male insurgent were killed.
- Search operations are ongoing for remaining insurgents.
- Authorities encourage surrender and rehabilitation.
Bhopal, June 14 (NationPress) In a major achievement during the ongoing anti-LWE operations, security forces operating in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh have successfully neutralised four insurgents amid a fierce confrontation in the thick forests of the Pachama Dadar range, located under the Rupjhar police station area.
A senior police officer, part of the anti-Maoist operations team, confirmed this development to IANS, stating: “During the encounter, we neutralised three female and one male Maoist.”
This operation was a collaborative effort between the Hawk Force and local police, the officer elaborated.
He also mentioned that further details are pending as the operation is ongoing, suggesting that the number of neutralised Maoists might increase.
The police had acted on intelligence reports regarding the presence of Maoists in the Pachama Dadar forest, prompting the launch of this operation.
“We have recovered the bodies of the three female Maoists, but their identification is yet to be confirmed. The recovery of the other body is also underway,” the officer stated.
The deceased insurgents comprised one male and three female cadres, all suspected to be active members of the CPI (Maoist) group.
When queried about whether a cache of arms had been found on-site, including an INSAS rifle, a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), and a .303 rifle, officials remarked, “We must search the entire area and identify the bodies before we can confirm. It’s possible they have more ammunition than what we currently know.”
All of these individuals belonged to a notorious Maoist stronghold that covers parts of Madhya Pradesh and neighboring Chhattisgarh.
Previously, on February 19, police in Balaghat also achieved a notable success when four female Naxalites were killed in an encounter near the Raunda Forest Camp in the Supkhar forest area of Kanha.
These included Asha, Sheela, Ranjita, and Lakhkhe Maravi, who collectively had a bounty of Rs 62 lakh on their heads and had been active in Maoist operations since 2015–16.
With a total of 23 Maoists killed in Balaghat over the past six years, the district plays a crucial role in India’s broader counterinsurgency efforts. Search operations are ongoing to locate any remaining insurgents who may have escaped during the firefight.
Authorities continue to encourage militants to surrender and reintegrate through government rehabilitation programs.