2 Maoist commanders killed in encounter in Kondagaon

Raipur: Security forces gunned down two high-ranking Maoists in an encounter in a patch of jungle on the Kondagaon-Narayanpur border late Tuesday night. The year's toll has risen to 140.
The duo was identified as divisional committee member (DVCM) Haldar, who carried a bounty of Rs 8 lakh, and area committee member Rame, who had a reward of Rs 5 lakh.
Police officials said they received specific intelligence inputs about the presence of Maoists in Kilam-Bargum forests, around 280km south of Raipur. A joint team of Kondagaon District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters set off for the location on Tuesday morning and spotted the insurgents late in the evening.
A gunfight broke out and lasted into the night. When police searched the area, they found the bodies of two Maoists, an Ak47, additional arms, explosives, and other Maoist materials.
"The elimination of these top-level operatives is a major setback to Maoist operations in the region. They were linked to multiple incidents of violence, and their neutralization is a significant achievement for the forces," a senior police officer said.
Search operations continued on Wednesday morning in the rugged forest terrain to trace the insurgents and secure the area.
This was the second major encounter in four days. On April 12, three Maoists were killed in an encounter in Bijapur district.
Raipur: Security forces gunned down two high-ranking Maoists in an encounter in a patch of jungle on the Kondagaon-Narayanpur border late Tuesday night. The year's toll has risen to 140.
The duo was identified as divisional committee member (DVCM) Haldar, who carried a bounty of Rs 8 lakh, and area committee member Rame, who had a reward of Rs 5 lakh.
Police officials said they received specific intelligence inputs about the presence of Maoists in Kilam-Bargum forests, around 280km south of Raipur. A joint team of Kondagaon District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters set off for the location on Tuesday morning and spotted the insurgents late in the evening.
A gunfight broke out and lasted into the night. When police searched the area, they found the bodies of two Maoists, an Ak47, additional arms, explosives, and other Maoist materials.
"The elimination of these top-level operatives is a major setback to Maoist operations in the region. They were linked to multiple incidents of violence, and their neutralization is a significant achievement for the forces," a senior police officer said.
Search operations continued on Wednesday morning in the rugged forest terrain to trace the insurgents and secure the area.
This was the second major encounter in four days. On April 12, three Maoists were killed in an encounter in Bijapur district.