A woman Naxalite carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh was killed during an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on September 18, 2025. The clash occurred in the dense forests of Kistaram area, where a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was conducting an anti-Naxal operation based on intelligence inputs about Maoist movement. The woman cadre, identified as a member of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), was gunned down in the exchange of fire that ensued around 6 AM. Security personnel recovered an INSAS rifle, a tiffin bomb, and other explosives from the site, indicating her role in the Maoist cadre’s armed wing.
This incident marks a significant blow to the Maoist insurgency in the Bastar region, where Sukma remains a hotbed of Naxal activity. The deceased Naxalite’s identity and specific affiliation within the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) are yet to be officially confirmed, but sources suggest she was a mid-level commander involved in multiple attacks on security forces.
Recent Surrenders in Narayanpur
In a related development, just a day earlier on September 17, twelve Naxalites, including nine with a combined bounty of Rs 18 lakh, surrendered before authorities in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district. Among the group were five women, highlighting a trend of female cadres laying down arms amid the government’s rehabilitation efforts. The surrenders took place at a forward operating base in the Abujhmad area, a remote Maoist stronghold.
The group included active members from the Maoist military squads, with bounties ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh each. They cited disillusionment with the Naxal ideology, internal exploitation, and the relentless pressure from security operations as reasons for quitting. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the surrenders as a success of the state’s anti-Naxal strategy, which includes incentives under the Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy offering financial aid, job training, and protection.
Broader Context of Anti-Naxal Operations
These events underscore the intensified crackdown on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in Chhattisgarh, where security forces have ramped up operations in the lead-up to the 2026 goal of eradicating Maoism. Since January 2025, over 200 Naxalites have been neutralized in encounters, and more than 500 have surrendered across the state. The Bastar division, encompassing Sukma and Narayanpur, accounts for a significant portion of these actions, with improved intelligence and local recruitment into DRG playing key roles.
Authorities have urged remaining Maoists to surrender, promising fair rehabilitation, while emphasizing zero tolerance for violence. The incidents reflect a dual approach: decisive action against hardcore elements and outreach to lower-rung cadres, potentially weakening the Maoist network further.
