India News | Chhattisgarh: Woman Naxal with Rs 8 Lakh Bounty Killed in Encounter with Security Forces

Kanker, Jul 9 (PTI) A 30-year-old woman Naxalite, carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh on her head, was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Tuesday, police said.

The gunfight broke out in a forest near Binagunda village under Chhote Bethiya police station limits when security personnel were conducting an anti-Naxal operation, said Kanker Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela.

Also Read | Hyderabad: Lioness Sirisha Escapes Enclosure, Attacks Caretaker at Nehru Zoological Park; Recaptured (See Pics).

Personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, and 30th and 94th battalions of Border Security Force (BSF) were involved in the joint operation, the officer said.

After the exchange of fire stopped, the body of a female Naxalite, a .303 rifle and a .315 bore rifle were recovered from the spot, Elesela added.

Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: After Kathua Terror Attack, Encounter Breaks Out in Doda Between Terrorists and Security Forces (Watch Video).

The slain Naxal was identified as Rita Madiyam, a resident of Mankleli village in Bijapur district, who was active as a member of PLGA (Peoples' Liberation Guerrilla Army) no. 5, the SP said, adding that she was carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh on her head.

With the latest encounter, the number of Naxals gunned down by security forces in Chhattisgarh so far this year has risen to 139, police said.

Of them, 137 Maoists were killed in the Bastar division comprising seven districts including Kanker, while two others were gunned down in Dhamtari district under the Raipur division.

During the same period, 498 Maoists were arrested and 461 surrendered before the police in Bastar division, police said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)