Four Women Naxals Killed in Balaghat Encounter

By A Staff Reporter

BALAGHAT: In a major crackdown on Naxal activities, security forces gunned down four hardcore women Naxalites in an encounter in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district on Wednesday. The operation was conducted by the Hawk Force and police near the Rounda forest camp in the Supkhar forest range, under the Garhi police station limits. The slain Naxalites belonged to the Kanha-Bhoramdeo AB Division Khatia Morcha Dalam, with their commander Asha carrying a bounty of ₹14 lakh on her head.

Additional Director General (ADG) of Anti-Naxal Operations, Pankaj Shrivastava, confirmed the successful operation, stating that the forces exchanged nearly 100 rounds of fire with the Naxals. Among the weapons recovered from the site were an INSAS rifle, a self-loading rifle (SLR), a .303 rifle, and a .315 single-shot gun. Additionally, several daily-use items were seized from the location.

Following the encounter, other Naxal operatives managed to escape into the dense forest cover. A large-scale search operation has been launched to track them down, involving more than 12 teams from Hawk Force, CRPF, COBRA, and the district police. Authorities have also sealed the Chhattisgarh border to prevent fleeing Naxals from crossing into the neighboring state.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav praised the police for their swift and effective action, reaffirming the government's commitment to eradicating Naxalism by 2026 in line with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s national campaign. "The police are putting their lives on the line to ensure the state is free from Naxal activities. We will not rest until this menace is completely wiped out," Yadav stated.

The encounter marks a significant victory in the ongoing battle against Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in Madhya Pradesh, reinforcing the state’s firm stance against Naxal violence and its resolve to maintain law and order.