Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal

Bhopal, Jun 14: In a major success for anti-Naxal operations in Madhya Pradesh, security forces neutralised four Maoist insurgents — including three women — during a fierce gunfight in the dense forests of Pachama Dadar under the Rupjhar police station limits in Balaghat district.

A senior police officer involved in the operation told reporters that the encounter was part of a joint offensive by the elite Hawk Force and the local police. “Three female and one male Maoist were killed during the operation. The search is ongoing, and more details are awaited,” he said.

The action was initiated following specific intelligence about Maoist movement in the area. Security forces launched a combing operation that culminated in the gun battle deep inside the forested terrain.

So far, the bodies of three women have been recovered, and identification is in progress. The recovery of the fourth body — a male insurgent — is underway.

Initial reports suggest the deceased were active cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist) and belonged to a faction operating across the MP-Chhattisgarh border, known for its notoriety and long-standing violent activities.

Officials suspect a cache of arms was in the possession of the group, potentially including an INSAS rifle, an SLR, a .303 rifle, and other combat equipment. “We are still sweeping the area. Ammunition and weapons recovery is expected, but confirmation will follow post-search,” said a police source.

This is not the first major strike in the region. On February 19 this year, four female Maoists — Asha, Sheela, Ranjita, and Lakhkhe Maravi — were gunned down in a similar operation near the Raunda Forest Camp in Supkhar. Together, they carried a bounty of ?62 lakh and had been active since 2015–16.

With this latest success, the number of Maoists neutralised in Balaghat over the last six years has risen to 23, reaffirming the district’s position as a key battleground in India’s broader counterinsurgency efforts.

Search operations are continuing in the region to locate any remaining cadres who may have escaped during the encounter. Authorities have reiterated their appeal to Maoists to surrender and avail of government rehabilitation schemes aimed at reintegration into the mainstream.