Maoist with reward of Rs 14 lakh killed in encounter: MP Police

According to the police, the elite Hawk Force acted on information about Maoists of GRB (Gondia-Rajnandgaon-Balaghat) and KB divisions and launched an intensive search operation in the jungle.

“Hawk Force personnel called out to 10-12 Naxalites in plain clothes in Kothiyatola village for questioning. The suspected Naxalites opened fire indiscriminately at Hawk Force personnel, who retaliated in self-defence. The Naxalites fled and took cover in dense forests and hills. During the search operation, a Naxalite’s body was found, who was identified as ACM Sohan alias Ukas alias Aytu of the KB division. Search is underway for others,” he said.

The police said that Sukan, who has eight criminal cases against him in Madhya Pradesh, has been involved in several incidents in Chhattisgarh after he joined the banned CPI (Maoist) in 2013. Sukan was assigned an important role as an associate of Central Committee member Deepak alias Milind Teltumbde and sent to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh zone in 2019, the police said.

On December 14, 2023, Maoist Madkam Hidma, a resident of Bijapur district in adjoining Chhattisgarh and carrying a joint reward of Rs 14 lakh across three states, was killed. On April 1, 2024, two Maoists were gunned down in an encounter, police said.

Prasad said that over the past five years, 19 Maoists, carrying a total reward of Rs 3.17 crore announced by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh, were killed in encounters.