IED event in Chhattisgarh, Dantewada area, India on Wed 20th September 2023

Two women Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, jointly carrying a reward of INR 700,000, were killed in an encounter with a joint team of Security Forces (SFs), including District Reserve Guards (DRG), carrying out an anti-Maoist operation in the forests of Aranpur in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on September 20, reports Zee News. Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Rai said that input was received about the presence of Maoists in Darbha division. He said the Maoists opened fire on the SFs, and an encounter ensued in the forests of Aranpur. "After the firing stopped and the cadres retreated into deep forests, security personnel recovered the bodies of two women Maoists along with an INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifle and a 12-bore rifle. Besides, a tiffin bomb, IED (Improvised Explosive Device) wires, ammunition, documents, and other items of daily use were also recovered," Rai added. Police said one of the Maoists killed in the encounter was identified as Kumari Lakkhe of the Malangir area committee and ‘area militia commander-in-chief’. "Kumari Lakkhe played an active role in many violent incidents and carried a Rs 5 lakh [INR 500,000] cash reward on her head. Beside this, more than half a dozen cases were lodged against her in Aranpur and Kirandul police stations," the SP said, adding that the other woman cadre was identified as Mangli Padami, who carried an INR 200.000 cash reward and was active as a member of ‘Platoon 24’.