A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre was killed in an exchange of fire between People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) cadres of CPI-Maoist and Police in the forests of Bengpalli under the Kirandul Police Station limits in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on May 22, reports News18. Acting on the information about the gathering of the CPI-Maoistcadres in the forest area, the Police reached the spot to conduct a search operation. During the encounter, CPI-Maoist cadre was killed. The Police recovered two country-made pistols, five kilograms Improvised Explosive Device (IED)explosives, and Naxal[Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] literature at the encounter site.
Separately, Sukma District Collector ordered a magisterial inquiry on May 23 into the incident in which three people were killed in firing following a clash with Security Forces (SFs) on May 17, reports The Indian Express. The order for the magisterial probe was passed when representatives of the protesting people from tribal communities met the Inspector General of Police (IG) and the Collectors of Sukma and Bijapur Districts of Chhattisgarh on May 23. The Police had earlier declared the deceased to be affiliated with CPI-Maoist, a charge denied by the families of the deceased.