Narayanpur. Two of the three Naxalites killed in an encounter with security forces a day earlier in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh had a total reward of Rs 41 lakh on their heads. Police officials gave this information on Tuesday. Police officials said that one of the killed Naxalites has been identified as Rupesh, a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and had a reward of Rs 25 lakh on him. He said that this was the third DKSZC member killed in an encounter with security forces in the state this year.
Police had said on Monday that three Naxalites, including a woman, were killed in an encounter with security forces during a joint anti-Naxal operation in Abujhmad area on the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra interstate border. Inspector General of Police of Bastar region Sundarraj P said that two of the three Naxalites killed have been identified as Rupesh and Jagdish. The identity of the female Naxalite is being ascertained.
Sundararaj said that Rupesh, a member of the Maoists’ DKSZC, was a high-ranking cadre of the Maoists’ western sub-zone.
Inspector General of Police said, “Rupesh was leading the Maoists’ company number 10 and was active in Gadchiroli area of neighbouring Maharashtra. There was a reward of Rs 25 lakh on him.” Earlier in April, DKSZC member Joganna was killed in an encounter in Narayanpur district of Bastar division. Another member of the same organization, Randher, was killed in Dantewada district on September 3.
DKSZC carries out Maoist activities in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh as well as in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Telangana and parts of Maharashtra. The Inspector General of Police said that another Naxalite Jagdish was a resident of Balaghat in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. He was a divisional committee member. There was a reward of Rs 16 lakh on him.
He said that one AK-47 rifle, one SLR (self loading rifle), one INSAS rifle, one 12 bore gun, explosives and items of daily use and other Maoist items were recovered from the encounter site. Sundarraj said that so far this year, bodies of 157 Naxalites have been recovered in different encounters in Bastar division and 663 Naxalites have been arrested. During this period, 656 Naxalites have surrendered.