Woman Maoist killed in encounter in Sukma

Raipur: A 35-year-old woman Maoist was killed in an encounter between security forces and Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district in Bastar division on Thursday.

The woman cadre, identified as Buski Nuppon, was wanted in multiple serious criminal cases and was a member of the Malangir Area Committee. She carried a govt-declared bounty of Rs 5 lakh.

Police said Maoists and security forces began firing at each other after a search operation was launched on information about the presence of Maoist cadres in the forested, hilly area between Gufdi and Peramapara.

District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel engaged with cadres from pre-dawn hours on Thursday. Police later recovered Nuppon's body along with arms and a large quantity of explosive material.

Sukma SP Kiran Chavan said that the cadre was a resident of Revali in Aranpur of Dantewada district and was wanted in nine serious cases of violence across Sukma and Dantewada. There are seven cases registered against her in Aranpur, and one case each in Kuakonda and Gadiras police stations.

Items recovered at the encounter site included .315 bore rifle, .315 rifle cartridges, wireless set, detonators, explosives and Maoist literature.