SAA event in Chhattisgarh, Pusnar in Bijapur District area, India on Fri 12th January 2024

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) ‘militia’ (people’s army of the Maoists) ‘commander’, identified as Toya Potam alias Somlu (30), carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, was killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) during an anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] operation in a forest near Pusnar village under Gangalur Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 12, reports NDTV. "Intelligence inputs were received about the presence of senior Naxalites, including Gagalurarea committee secretary Dinesh Modiyam, and some 20–25 armed ultras cadres in Pusnar forest. In the ensuing gunfight, Naxalite Toya Potam alias Somlu (30), was killed," a Police official said. "Potam carried a reward of ? 1 lakh and was the militia commander of the outlawed Maoist organization. Four warrants were pending against him. He was involved in acts of murder, attacks on security forces, etc.," the official said, adding that arms, explosives, and other items have been recovered from the site.