With the killing of six more Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, including three female cadres, the death toll rose to 10 in the encounter with Security Forces (SFs) in the forest between the Tekmeta and Kakur villages in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh on April 30, reports Latestly.com on May 1. During the search of the incident site after the encounter, the bodies of a total of 10 Maoist cadres, including 3 female Maoists, have been recovered and are being identified," the police said. A huge quantity of weapons, including an AK47 and an INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifle, have also been recovered from the encounter site. As per the initial investigation, two of those killed in Tuesday’s encounter have been identified as ‘divisional committee members (DVCM)’ Joganna and Vinay alias Ashok. Police said that they had specific information about the location of Maoist ‘central committee (CC)’ member Sonu, along with DVCM Joganna and Vinay and cadres from north Bastar, Marh, and Gadchiroli divisions. A joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) was sent to intercept them, according to The Times of India. Earlier, SATP reported that four CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with SFs in Narayanpur District on April 30.
At least 16 Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres carrying a total cash reward of INR 1.6 million surrendered in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on April 30, reports The Times of India. Among the 16 Maoists, one carried a reward of INR 800,000 on his head, one carried a bounty of INR 500,000, and three carried a reward of INR 100,000 each. The surrendered Maoists included one ‘PLGA (People's Liberation Guerilla Army) battalion number 1 member, Arun Kadti (21), who carried a reward of INR 800,000 cash on his head. Kadti worked as a ‘platoon commander’ in the organisation to hold meetings for him with villagers, recruit youths, and brainwash them with Maoist ideology. He was involved in significant violent activities, including the recent attack on the Tekulagudem security camp on January 30. Another Matwada Local Organising Squad (LOS) ‘commander’ and ‘area committee member (ACM)’, Ramesh Hemla (42), carrying a bounty of INR 500,000, also surrendered before the Police. He joined the organisation in 1996 as a member of the cultural wing of Maoists called Chetna Natya Manch (CNM) and was given a task as a PLGA member in 2003. Later, he was promoted to Local Guerrilla Squad (LGS) ‘commander’ in 2007. Since 2010, he has served as LOS ‘commander’ for the Bhairamgarh area committee. Hemla had 42 Police warrants against him and has been involved in encounters and attacks since 2003. Three other cadres carrying INR 100,000 each were Sudru Punem-Dumripalnar Revolutionary People’s Committee (RPC), CNM ‘commander’, Payki Karam RPC Krantikari Adivasi Mahila Sangathan (KAMS) 'president', and Madded area committee LGS member.