Top Maoist sniper shot dead in Chhattisgarh; Rs 8 lakh bounty and weapons recovered

RAIPUR: The Maoist killed in an encounter by security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Saturday, was identified as top rank deputy commander and sniper of PLGA battalion number 1, who carried a cash reward of Rs eight lakh on his head.

Police confirmed that Kanna had a notorious record in the region. A native of Tekulgudium located on Bijapur borders, he had been involved in multiple major attacks. He was also known to be a close associate of Maoist central committee member Madvi Hidma, one of India’s most wanted Maoist leaders.Police said that security forces in Chhattisgarh scored a significant victory against Maoist insurgents over the weekend with the killing of Sodhi Kanna, a top-rank Maoist Deputy Commander and sniper of PLGA Battalion number one, Company number two.

Kanna, who carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, was killed during a prolonged anti-Naxal operation in the dense forest region of the Indravati National Park area in Bijapur district of Bastar division.The operation, which began on July 4, was a coordinated effort involving teams from DRG Bijapur, DRG Dantewada, STF, CoBRA 202, CoBRA 210, and CRPF. Acting on intelligence inputs indicating the presence of cadres from Telangana State Committee, National Park Area Committee, and PLGA Battalion number one, the forces launched a strategic search mission.

According to Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav, multiple intermittent gun battles occurred over the course of the operation. Following a fierce exchange of fire, the body of Sodhi Kanna, dressed in Maoist combat uniform, was recovered along with a .303 rifle, five live rounds, and a significant cache of explosives and insurgency-related material.Items recovered from the encounter site include one .303 rifle, five live cartridges, a magazine of AK-47 with 59 rounds, one set of Maoist uniform, detonators, codex wires, safety fuses, communication radios, Maoist literature, and various daily-use items typically carried in Naxal pithus (backpacks).As a trained sniper, Kanna played a crucial role in the battalion’s armed wing, and his death is seen as a serious blow to the Maoist organization's operational capabilities in the region.Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), P Sundarraj, called the operation a continuation of the momentum achieved in 2024, stating that 415 hardcore Maoists have been eliminated over the past 18 months.“These figures reflect the strength of strategic planning, the bravery of our forces, and the growing support from local communities,” he said.He also emphasized the perseverance and dedication of the security forces operating under harsh conditions, including heavy monsoon rains, slippery forest terrain, and shifting weather. Units such as the DRG, STF, CoBRA, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CAF, and Bastar Fighters have shown unwavering commitment in executing missions even in the most challenging phases of the year.