Hawk Force Kills Two Naxalites in Balaghat Forests

Encounter Between Hawk Force and Naxalites in Balaghat Forests: Two Hardcore Naxalites with 4.3 Million Bounty Killed, Including One Woman

In the forests of Pitkona-Kerjhri in Lanji Police Station area, Naxalites lying in ambush fired indiscriminately at Hawk Force, who retaliated strongly. One AK-47 and a 12-bore rifle were recovered from the deceased Naxalites. For the first time in the history of Naxalite activities in Balaghat, BGL shells have been seized from Naxalites.

Bhopal, April 2, 2024 Following the directives of the Honorable Chief Minister to carry out strict actions in the anti-Naxalite campaign, the Madhya Pradesh Police Hawk Force has achieved another significant success. Under an intelligence-based anti-Naxalite operation, on April 1, during a search operation in the forests of Balaghat, two Naxalites with a combined bounty of 4.3 million rupees, including one woman, were killed in an encounter. An AK-47 and a 12-bore rifle were recovered from the deceased Naxalites. Additionally, BGL shells, wireless sets, and two radios were seized for the first time in Balaghat’s history of Naxalite activities. The encounter occurred in the forests of Pitkona-Kerjhri in Lanji Police Station area. The deceased woman Naxalite was a member of the divisional committee of Expansion Platoon-02 of the Kanha-Bhoramdeo Division. The other Naxalite was a member of the Malajkhand Area Committee. Both Naxalites were involved in multiple Naxalite incidents across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra. After the encounter, Hawk Force and CRPF teams conducted an intensive search operation in the forest.

Naxalites Active in Three States’ Affected Areas: Hawk Force received specific intelligence about the presence of GRB Division Naxalites in the forests of Pitkona-Kerjhri in the Lanji Police Station area of Balaghat district. Based on this intelligence, the Hawk Force Special Operation Group swiftly launched a search operation in the forest. During the search, around 9 to 10 PM, 20 to 25 Naxalites lying in ambush opened indiscriminate fire on the police party. In retaliatory action, Hawk Force killed two hardcore uniformed Naxalites, including one woman. An AK-47, a 12-bore rifle, and daily use materials were recovered from the deceased Naxalites. No injuries to the police personnel were reported during the operation. The killed woman Naxalite was identified as Sanjanti alias Kranti, wife of Surender (38), a resident of Regadm village, Bheji Police Station, Sukma district (CG), with a total bounty of 2.9 million rupees across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra. The other Naxalite, Raghu alias Sher Singh alias Somji Pandre, a resident of Dadeksa, Balaghat district, had a total bounty of 1.4 million rupees across the same states. The deceased Naxalites were active in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. There is a possibility that other Naxalites were injured in the encounter, and a search is ongoing in the forest.

Second Major Success During the Honorable Chief Minister’s Tenure: As a result of the directives and encouragement given by the Honorable Chief Minister, on December 14, hardcore Naxalite Madkam Hidma alias Chaitu (about 32-33 years old), a resident of Pomra, Miratur Police Station, Bijapur district (Chhattisgarh), with a bounty of 1.4 million rupees, was killed. Twenty-four police personnel involved in the operation were given out-of-turn promotions. The police personnel who killed the two hardcore Naxalites with a bounty on April 1, 2024, will also be honored with out-of-turn promotions. Continuous encouragement from the Honorable Chief Minister boosts the morale of police personnel and motivates them for courageous actions.

Three Major Actions Last Year: Under the Naxal eradication campaigns in Naxal-affected districts, the Madhya Pradesh Police carried out three major actions in 2023. Hawk Force neutralized four hardcore Naxalites, including two women, with a joint bounty of 1.4 million rupees each by the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. In the April encounter in Kadla, female Naxalites Sarita and Sunita were killed. In September, Naxalite Kamlu was neutralized in the Kundul-Koddapar forest area. In August 2023, Madhya Pradesh Police arrested Ashok Reddy alias Baldev, the head of the mass organization of the North Bastar and RKB Division, along with his wife ACM Remati, from Jabalpur city.

Seventeen Naxalites Eliminated in the Last 5 Years:

In the past 5 years, 17 Naxalites have been killed, including 2 DVCM Naxal Commanders and 15 ACM rank Naxalites, with a total bounty of 26.2 million rupees.
In 2022, a total of 6 Naxalites with bounties were killed, marking a record for the most Naxalites killed in a year, totaling 12 million rupees in bounties.
In 2023, 4 Naxalites with a total bounty of 5.6 million rupees were killed.
In the past 2 years, a total of 10 Naxalites with bounties totaling 17.6 million rupees were killed.
In the past 5 years, 5 hardcore Naxalites, including 1 SZDCM (Ashok Reddy) and 4 ACM rank Naxalites with a total bounty of 14.1 million rupees, have been arrested in Madhya Pradesh.