Rewarded Maoist killed in Bastar's Bijapur encounter; arms and explosives seized

Raipur: Security forces gunned down a Maoist carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh during an encounter in the dense forests of Kakekorma in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Saturday. The joint operation involved District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (ATF) and CoBRA 202 battalion. According to Bijapur SP Jitendra Yadav, the operation was launched following intelligence about Maoist presence in the region. During the search, a gun battle broke out in the forests after which the body of a Maoist cadre was recovered from the site. The deceased cadre was identified as Arun Madkam (35), a resident of Entapad in Chintagufa police station limits in Sukma district. He held the rank of DVCM (Divisional Committee Member) in military company number 2 of CPI (Maoist) and carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, police officials said. From the encounter site, security personnel recovered a 12-bore gun with three live rounds, a BGL launcher with nine shells, explosives, scanner set, solar panel, backpack, Maoist literature, medicines and other insurgency-related material. Bastar range IG P Sundarraj said that despite monsoon hardships, including incessant rains, treacherous forest terrain and risky routes, security forces remain committed to their mission. Sundarraj noted that in the past 21 months (January 2024 to September 13, 2025), security forces have recovered bodies of 432 hardcore Maoists across Bastar division.