In a major breakthrough, security forces in Chhattisgarh killed two top Maoist leaders on Monday in Narayanpur district. Both leaders had a bounty of Rs 40 lakh each, police officials said. The deceased were identified as Raju Dada, also called Katta Ramachandra Reddy (63), and Kosa Dada, also called Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy (67). Both were Central Committee members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Encounter in Abhujmaad Forest
The firefight started early Monday in the Abhujmaad forest, near the Maharashtra border, when police were acting on information about the movement of senior Maoist cadres, said Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Robinson Guria. The gunfight lasted several hours before the bodies of the two leaders were found. Authorities recovered one AK-47, one INSAS rifle, one barrel grenade launcher (BGL), a large number of explosives, Maoist literature, and other daily-use items from the site. Raju Dada and Kosa Dada were from Karimnagar in Telangana and had been part of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, which oversees Maoist operations in the Bastar region, for more than 30 years.
Role in Violent Activities
The SP said the two leaders were behind multiple violent attacks in Bastar, resulting in deaths of both security personnel and civilians. Raju Dada was also known by the names Gudsa Usendi, Vijay, and Vikalp, while Kosa Dada went by Gopanna and Buchanna. Each had a reward of Rs 40 lakh on their head in Chhattisgarh. Authorities are still collecting information about their criminal records and other rewards from different states.
Police Commitment and Naxal Casualties
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said this operation is a significant blow to the banned Maoist group. Despite tough terrain and bad weather, police and security forces in Bastar continue to work strongly under the vision of the Union and Chhattisgarh governments and for the people of Bastar. He urged remaining Maoists to give up violence, join mainstream life, and take advantage of the government’s surrender and rehabilitation program. This year, 249 Naxals have been killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh. Of them, 220 were killed in Bastar’s seven districts, while 27 were shot in Gariaband district of Raipur division. Two others were killed in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district in Durg division. On September 11, ten Naxals, including a Central Committee member of CPI (Maoist) Modem Balakrishna, were killed in Gariaband district.
