Renuka, a key figure in the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), killed in a clash with security forces on Monday in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.
Known by several aliases, including Banu, Chaitey, and Saraswati, Renuka was a prominent member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee.
The operation began early in the morning when a team from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) initiated a search in areas under Geedam police station in Dantewada and Bhairamgarh police station in Bijapur.
Security forces engaged in heavy firing with Maoists at approximately 9 AM, a standoff that continued at the time of reporting.
Authorities later recovered Renuka’s body in the morning and identified it as belonging to the wanted Maoist leader.
A reward of Rs 5 lakh had been placed on Renuka’s head for her involvement in Maoist activities and her role as the press team in charge for the Dandakaranya Special Zone.
At the site of the encounter, security forces seized an INSAS rifle, ammunition, and other weapons. They also recovered daily-use items belonging to the Maoists.
The ongoing operation targets several border villages, including Nelgoda, Akeli, and Belnar.
The clash on Monday follows a series of significant encounters in Chhattisgarh over the weekend.
On Saturday, at least 18 suspected Maoists were killed, and four security personnel were injured in separate encounters in the Sukma and Bijapur districts.
According to the Inspector General of Police (IG), three of the injured were from DRG Sukma, and one was from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). All the injured personnel are reportedly in stable condition.
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In Bijapur, security forces killed one Maoist in the Narsapur jungles during a late Saturday evening operation.
Authorities recovered the body along with weapons, but have not yet confirmed the identity of the deceased.
In Sukma, another encounter took place on Saturday morning after intelligence reports indicated Maoist presence in the Gogunda, Nendum, and Upampalli areas.
A joint team of DRG Sukma and CRPF launched the operation, which led to the firefight.
Authorities reported killing 119 Maoists in various encounters across the Bastar Range since the beginning of 2025.
As security forces continue to target insurgent groups in the region, operations remain ongoing to curb Maoist activities in the area.
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