Maoist leaders Urmila, Buchanna among 6 killed by security forces

Operation Bijapur: Maoist leaders Urmila and Buchanna among 6 killed by security forces

Urmila and Buchanna Kudiyam, wife of top agent Papa Rao, one of the most feared Maoist leaders, were among six Naxalites, including three rebel women, killed during an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on November 11, police said on Thursday.

Speaking to ANI, Inspector General of Police Bastar P Sundarraj stated that the operation was launched on November 11 on “suspicion of presence” of the CP Maoist organization in Bijapur district. District Reserve Guards (DRG), Special Task Force and other security forces from Bijapur, Dantewada participated in the operation. “During the operation, there were many encounters between the security forces and the Maoists. Following the encounter, the dead bodies of six Maoists, including three women Maoists, were recovered from the spot by the security forces…” IG Sundarraj told reporters.

The Maoists were identified as Kanna, a Divisional Committee member in-charge of the Central District Committee, and Jagat, another District Committee member, and other party members Mangali and Bhagat; thus a total of six Maoists were detected…” IG Sundarraj informed reporters. “A large number of phased weapons such as AK-47s, LMGs and INSASs were seized by the security forces… Our security forces are capable and prepared…” IG Sundarraj added.

Earlier, IG Sundarraj said that they are hopeful of achieving their target of making Chhattisgarh naxal-free by March 31, 2026 and more than 2200 naxals have joined the bandwagon in the last 20 months.

Speaking to ANI, P Sundarraj said: “Left Wing Extremism has become a bigger security problem not just for Bastar and Chhattisgarh but for most of the country in the last few decades. The last few years have been very decisive for the security forces in the Bastar region. In the last two seasons, we have recovered more than 450 Naxalite bodies in the Bastar region. During this period, the bodies of top naxal cadres like Basavaraju and others have been recovered. In the last few months, the Central Committee and More than 300 Maoist cadres, including Politburo members and other Division committee members, decided to stay away from violence and join the mainstream.”

(With input from ANI)