Two Senior Maoist Leaders with ₹80 Lakh Bounty Killed in Encounter
In a major blow to the Naxal insurgency, security forces killed two top CPI (Maoist) Central Committee members in an encounter in the Abujhmad forest along the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border. The slain leaders, Katta Ramachandra Reddy and Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy, each carried a bounty of ₹40 lakh. They were reportedly masterminds behind numerous major attacks, including the 2010 Tadmetla ambush. Security forces recovered an AK-47, an INSAS rifle, and explosives from the site.
Unpacked:
Katta Ramachandra Reddy and Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy were senior Central Committee members of CPI (Maoist), responsible for planning major attacks. Their leadership roles and involvement in high-profile operations made them key figures within the insurgency, each carrying large bounties due to their significance and threat level to security forces.
The 2010 Tadmetla ambush was a major Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh where 76 CRPF personnel were killed. It stands out as one of the deadliest ambushes by Naxalites, demonstrating their operational capabilities and causing a significant impact on India's counter-insurgency efforts.
The insurgency has faced intensified counter-operations, such as Operation Black Forest in 2025, resulting in the elimination of top leaders and significant casualties among insurgents. However, sporadic attacks, including IED blasts and ambushes, continue to occur, indicating persistent, though weakened, Maoist activity.
Naxalites commonly employ assault rifles (like AK-47 and INSAS), explosives, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Their tactics include ambushes, landmine blasts, and surprise attacks on security forces, often in forested or remote areas to exploit terrain advantages.