29 Naxalites were killed after a prolonged encounter with security forces in Kanker, Chhattisgarh. Amongst the weapons recovered were lethal arms including AK-47 and LMGs. This incident marks the highest casualty count for Naxalites in any single confrontation to date.
Security forces scored a major achievement in killing the notorious Naxal leader, Shankar Rao. He was the most formidable and influential commander within the Naxal ranks in the Dandakaranya Division, hailed as a second symbol of dread, feared by civilians and police alike. He commanded a `25 lakh bounty on his head.
Known for his expert handling of deadly weapons like the LMG and AK-47, Shankar Rao carried these arms at all times, enforcing his reign of terror over 15 years across the forests from Chhattisgarh to Telangana and Odisha. He was the mastermind behind numerous high-casualty Naxal operations.
In 2021, Shankar Rao orchestrated one of the gravest attacks along with his comrades by detonating an IED targeted at a bus full of CRPF soldiers, resulting in the death of 5 heroes and injuries to over two dozen.
Source: aajtak
According to IG Sundarraj P, Telangana-based Naxalite Shankar Rao had long been sought after, mainly active in the Bastar district including several regions like Kanker's Partapur, Badgaon, Pakhanjur, and more. Initially appointed as a commander of the Jan Militia, he rapidly climbed the ranks due to his activity and sharp intellect.
IG reported that security forces were tipped off about the presence of Shankar Rao and other Naxalites including Lalita and Raju in the northern Bastar division. This led to BSF and DRG joint teams patrolling the Chotebethiya area. When they reached the jungles near the village of Hapatola around two in the afternoon, they were met with gunfire from the Naxalites, sparking the encounter. The ensuing operation resulted in the death of many Naxalites with a trove of weapons recovered including AK-47s, SLRs, INSAS rifles, LMGs, and a high quantity of guns and ammunition.
Before the first phase of voting in the Naxal-affected Bastar constituency scheduled for April 19, the security forces have secured a critical success. The Ministry of Home Affairs confirms that three security personnel were injured in the encounter, two BSF inspectors, and one DRG soldier. The operation began on the evening of April 15th, after receiving five inputs about the Naxalites, including two specific locations within the Binagunda region.
It's worth mentioning that so far this year, 79 Naxalites have been eliminated in encounters across seven districts in Bastar, including 13 on April 2nd and 6 on March 27th at Bijapur. Chhattisgarh's Deputy CM Sharma has dubbed this encounter a 'surgical strike' on Naxalism, affirming the state's commitment to peace.
