Sukma (Chhattisgarh) [India], September 19 : A woman Maoist carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakhs was killed in an encounter with security forces on Thursday in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district. The Maoist was wanted in 9 serious cases in the Sukma and Dantewada districts.
The Maoist named Buski Nuppo (35 years) was a member of the Malangir Area Committee.
The security forces recovered a .315 bore rifle, a large quantity of explosives from the encounter site.
Superintendent of Police Sukma, Kiran Chavhan, informed that on Thursday, based on information about the presence of Maoists in the jungle hills between Gufdi and Peramapara under the Gadiras police station area of Sukma district, the security forces started a search operation.
"During the operation, an encounter took place between the District Reserve Guard (DRG) team and the Maoists. On searching the encounter site, the body of a female Maoist, along with weapons, was recovered. Deceased Buski Nuppon was a resident of Rewali, Aranpur Police Station, Dantewada District," he said.
Weapons recovered from the encounter site include one .315 bore rifle, five .315 rifle cartridges, one wireless set, 8 detonators, Cordex wire approximately 10 meters long, four gelatin rods, one backpack, gunpowder, radio, Naxalite literature and other daily use items.
She was wanted in 7 cases of Aranpur police station, one case of Kunnakonda police station and one case of Gadirras police station.
Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, appealed to Maoist cadres to abandon violence and join the mainstream, taking advantage of the government's rehabilitation policy.
Earlier, twelve Naxals, including five women and seven men, surrendered before police authorities in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Thursday. The surrendered cadres carried a cumulative bounty of Rs 18 lakh, officials said.
According to police, the surrendering group consisted of members affiliated with key Naxal units operating in the Indravati and East Bastar regions, two areas known for long-standing insurgent activity.
Speaking to ANI, Narayanpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Robinson Guria confirmed the surrender. "12 Naxals carrying a total bounty of Rs 18 lakhs have surrendered today. The 12 Naxals include five women and seven men. Two of them were ECMs in their Naxal outfit in the Indravati and East Bastar areas. One of them is from Platoon 16, whose commander we had neutralised in the last operation," Guria said.