Maoist cadre holds a reward $Police said that 5 million people were killed in a confrontation with security forces in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh state on Sunday.
A team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) launched a search operation based on intelligence inputs about the Maoist presence, during which a gun battle broke out in a forested hilly area.
Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said sporadic firing continued between the DRG team and the Maoists since the morning hours.
“During the inspection of the encounter site, the body of a Maoist man along with a weapon was recovered,” Chavan said.
The police identified the deceased as Muchakki Kailash, a 31st Platoon Commander (PPCM) and a resident of Bulanbad village in Sukma district.
Police said Kailash was carrying a reward of Rs $5,000 on his head and was wanted in multiple cases, including the killing of civilians, attacks on security forces and plots to detonate explosive devices.
Bastar District Inspector General of Police Sundaraj P said that the opportunity for Maoist cadres to surrender and avail rehabilitation benefits is “in its final stage”, and appealed to the remaining cadres to avoid violence and join mainstream life.
The development comes amid repeated assurances from Federal Home Minister Amit Shah that left-wing extremism will be eliminated in the country by March 31, 2026, with security forces intensifying operations in core areas of Bastar.
Police officers said more details are awaited as searches continue in the area.
