A high-stakes anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada-Bijapur border jungles culminated in the death of bounty-tagged commander Rajesh Punem, dealing a body blow to Maoist operations in Bhairamgarh.
Triggered by inputs of weapon stockpiling on March 3 in forests near Gumlanar, Girsapara, and Nelgoda under Gidam station, a DRG-Bastar Fighters unit under DSP Rahul Kumar Uike’s leadership fanned out for intensive searches by afternoon.
Darkness brought confrontation: roughly 10 area committee Maoists lay in wait, striking with auto-weapons fury from 8:30 to 9:00 PM. Security elements countered adeptly, securing vantage points, issuing ultimatums, and delivering suppressive fire that scattered the assailants.
Post-clash sweeps netted Punem’s remains, verified by ex-cadres, alongside prime weaponry including rifles (SLR, INSAS), pistol, radios, clips, ammo, and gear. The haul underscores the operation’s thoroughness.
Alert to explosives and traps, forces executed comprehensive area control, route clearances, and patrols, returning unscathed to headquarters. Persistent efforts signal an unyielding push to reclaim Maoist-infested territories for peace and development.