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| Photo Credit: PTI
A Maoist carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh on his head was gunned down by safety personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district late Wednesday (March 4, 2026) night, the police stated.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai stated the Maoist was recognized as Rajesh Punem, a resident of Burji village below the Gangaloor police station limits in Bijapur district.
A gunfight befell on Wednesday night time within the forested hills when a joint group of the District Reserve Guard and Bastar Fighters, each models of the State police, was out on an anti-maoist operation.
The operation was launched after the police obtained inputs that Maoists had been dumping weapons and different supplies within the forested hill area between Gumalnar, Girsapara and Nelgoda villages within the Geedam space, bordering Bijapur district.
“At 12.30 p.m., the police force left for the suspected dump site and was proceeding ahead after conducting intensive search and cordoning off the forest and hilly area. At around 8.30-9.00 p.m., 8-10 armed Maoists of Bhairamgarh Area Committee, who were already lying in ambush, opened indiscriminate and deadly fire with illegal automatic weapons with the intention of killing the police party and looting the weapons,” Mr. Rai stated.
The officer added that the police instantly took cowl and warned the Maoists to give up, however they continued firing. After the alternate of fireside stopped and a search was performed, a physique was recovered and later recognized as Punem, a member of the Bhairamgarh Area Committee.
Weapons corresponding to a self-loading rifle, an INSAS rifle, a pistol with {a magazine} and dwell cartridges, empty shells and a walkie-talkie set had been recovered, stated Mr. Rai.
Published – March 05, 2026 10:06 pm IST
