Four Maoists, including three women, killed in ongoing encounter in M.P’s Balaghat

Google Earth image locates Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh.

At least four Maoists, three of them women, have been killed in an ongoing encounter between security forces and Maoists in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district on Saturday (June 14, 2025), the police said. 

Madhya Pradesh’s anti-Maoists Hawk Force Commandant Shiyaz K.M. told The Hindu that the encounter was under way in the Pachamdadar and Katejhiriya areas of the Sonewani forest area. Mr. Shiyaz said a search operation was launched in multiple parts of the district’s dense forest areas based on inputs from the Maoist movement. 

“Combing efforts are going on in multiple areas and the encounter will continue at least till tomorrow (June 15, 2025),” he said, adding that heavy rains in the area had made the operation more challenging.

Mr. Shiyaz said the operatives belonged to the Malajkhand unit of the GRB (Gondia-Rajnandgaon-Balaghat) Division of the Maoists.

“We had received input of their movement a couple of days ago after which multiple parties were deployed for a search operation. During one such search, firing started from their side and our personnel responded,” the officer said.

The encounter is part of a joint operation by the Madhya Pradesh Police’s Hawk Force and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), he said. 

Special Director-General (Anti-Maoist Operations) Pankaj Shrivastav told The Hindu that the four cadres were killed in two separate encounters and that a self-loading rifle (SLR), two .315 rifles, a grenade launcher and other ammunition were recovered from them. 

“We cannot divulge much information, as it is an ongoing operation. The forces and officers are currently in the forest. It has also been raining heavily there today (June 14, 2025), which is adding to the challenge but we are continuing the search operation. The encounter is likely to continue till tomorrow,” he said. 

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav congratulated the security forces and dubbed the encounter as a major success for the campaign to end Maoism by March 2026, a deadline set by the Union Government. 

“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji, the State has achieved a major success in the campaign to eradicate Maoism by March 2026,” he said on X. 

“The search is still on, in which a large number of police officers and personnel are engaged. Hearty congratulations to our indomitable soldiers and senior police officers of the State for this success,” Mr. Yadav said.

Published - June 14, 2025 08:40 pm IST