Top Naxal leader with Rs 8 lakh bounty on head killed in Chhattisgarh

A senior Maoist leader, Sodhi Kanna, with a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Monday.

Kanna served as the Deputy Commander of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No 1 and 2 and was shot dead in the Indravati National Park area.

He was a trained sniper and close aide of top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma. His body was recovered along with a .303 rifle, a large cache of explosives including codex wires, safety fuses and detonators.

Also, a set of Maoist uniforms, Maoist literature, a radio along with several daily use items were recovered from the site of the encounter.

The joint operation, which began on July 4, involved multiple security units, including the District Reserve Guards (DRG) of Bijapur and Dantewada, the Special Task Force (STF), CoBRA battalions 202 and 210, and the CRPF’s Young Platoon.

“In the past 18 months (2024–25), security forces have neutralised 415 hardcore Maoists across Bastar. Operations continue with high intensity even during the monsoon season, despite rough terrain and adverse weather conditions. Forces like DRG, STF, CoBRA, CRPF, and others are maintaining strong momentum,” said Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range.

According to intelligence inputs, the area was confirmed to be a stronghold of armed Maoist groups, including the Telangana State Committee, the National Park Area Committee, and the PLGA’s Battalion No. 1.

The security forces engaged in intermittent firefights with Maoist cadres over several days before recovering Kanna’s body and arms.

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