Chhattisgarh: Woman Maoist killed in encounter in Bastar

RAIPUR: A woman Maoist carrying a cash reward of Rs 8 lakh on her head was killed in an encounter with security forces in insurgency-hit Kanker district of Bastar division on Tuesday. Security personnel recovered a uniformed body of the woman cadre along with a .303 rifle and explosives from the site of the encounter.
Speaking to TOI, Kanker SP Indira Kalyan Elsela said that based on specific inputs about the presence of Maoists in forests of Chhote Bethiya in Binagunda village, an anti-Naxalite operation was launched in the region.
The cadre killed in the encounter was identified as 30-year-old Rita Madiyam, a native of Bijapur district and was active as member PLGA military company number 5, who carried Rs 8 lakh cash reward on her head, Elsela said.
“A joint team of District Reserve Guards, Bastar Fighters and Border Security Force went inside the forest when an exchange of fire took place with the Maoists. After the gun-battle ended, security forces recovered the body of the woman cadre along with a .303 rifle, .315 bore rifle and explosives from the site of encounter,” SP said, adding that the forces were returning to the base and all security personnel were reported safe.
Chhote Bethiya is the same region where 29 Naxalites were killed in an encounter in April.
With the latest killing, the total number of Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh this year ranges upt0 139.
Recently on July 2, five Maoists were killed in an encounter in Narayanpur district.