In a fierce encounter deep in the jungles straddling Dantewada and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh, security forces eliminated a high-value Naxal commander with a Rs 5 lakh bounty on his head. The operation unfolded on March 3, turning a routine search into a deadly showdown that left Maoists on the run.
Acting on precise intelligence about a weapons dump in the rugged terrain between Gumlanar, Girsapara, and Nelgoda villages under Gidam police station, a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters launched a combing operation. Led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Naxal operations) Rahul Kumar Uike, the forces moved cautiously through the dense forest around noon.
As dusk fell between 8:30 and 9:00 PM, around 10 Maoists from the Bhairamgarh Area Committee ambushed the patrol, unleashing a barrage from automatic weapons. The security personnel swiftly took cover, issued surrender warnings, and retaliated with effective fire that pinned down the attackers.
Exploiting the cover of darkness and thick foliage, the Maoists fled, abandoning their fallen comrade. A thorough search yielded the body of Rajesh Punem, identified as the Area Committee Member (ACM) with a Rs 5 lakh reward. Recovered items included an SLR rifle, INSAS rifle, pistol, walkie-talkie, magazines, live cartridges, and other insurgent gear.
No casualties on the security side marked another successful anti-Naxal thrust. Forces conducted extensive searches for IEDs and ambushes, establishing route opening parties and area domination before safely returning to Dantewada headquarters. Operations continue to flush out remaining threats in the region, signaling relentless pressure on Maoist strongholds.