Sukma, Mar 29 (PTI) A Naxalite carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Sunday, two days before the March 31 deadline set by the Centre to eliminate Left Wing Extremism from the country, police said.
The gunfight occurred on a forested hill under the Polampalli police station area, where a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a unit of the state police, was out on an anti-Naxal operation based on inputs about the presence of Maoists in the area, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said.
Once the exchange of fire stopped, the body of a Naxalite, along with a weapon, was recovered from the spot, he said.
The deceased cadre, Muchaki Kailash, was the section commander of platoon no. 31 of Maoists and carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh, the official said.
He said that Kailash was involved in incidents of civilian killing, planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and attacks on police.
The encounter comes just two days ahead of the March 31 deadline set by the Centre to eliminate armed Naxalism from the country.
Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj Pattilingam said that the opportunity for surrender and rehabilitation available to Maoist cadres has now reached its final stage, and they have very limited time to avail themselves of it.
He appealed to Maoist cadres to seize this opportunity, renounce the path of violence, and return to the mainstream of society to embark on a peaceful, secure, and dignified life.
With this incident, 27 Maoists have been killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh so far this year. On January 3, 14 Maoists were killed in two encounters in the Bastar region, which includes seven districts.
Last year, the security forces killed a total of 285 Maoists in encounters across the state. PTI COR TKP ARU
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