12 June, 2025:
Two Maoists, including a Local Organisation Squad (LOS) commander carrying a bounty of ₹5 lakh, were killed in an encounter with security forces on Wednesday in the Pusgunna area of Sukma district, located in the strife-torn south Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, police said.
The encounter comes a day after Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Akash Rao Girepunje was killed in an IED blast, allegedly planted by Maoists, in the Konta area.
According to the statement, the Kukanar police and the district reserve guard (DRG) launched a joint search operation on Tuesday, based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of CPI (Maoist) cadres in the Pusgunna forests.
The operation started around 2 pm. After the gun battle stopped, security personnel recovered the bodies of two Maoists, including a woman. “Among the deceased was Baman, the LOS commander of Pedaras, carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh on his head. The identity of the female Maoist is yet to be confirmed,” Inspector General of police, Bastar Range, Sunderraj P said.
Additional reinforcement teams have been deployed, and intensive search operations were ongoing in the surrounding forested areas to trace and apprehend other Maoist cadres who may have escaped, taking advantage of the terrain, police said.
