Top Maoist Leader’s Wife Killed in Bijapur Encounter; Arms and Supplies Seized

Bijapur, Chhattisgarh: In a decisive operation, security forces in Bijapur district eliminated six Maoists during an encounter on November 11, including Urmila, the wife of senior Maoist leader Papa Rao. Urmila was a key operative responsible for supplying arms and logistics to the PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) Battalion, instilling fear across Bastar.

Encounter Details

The operation targeted the dense forests of Kandulnar, Kachlaram, and Gujjakonta in the Indravati National Park area. Intelligence reports indicated the presence of senior Maoist leaders Papa Rao, Kanna alias Buchanna, Urmila, Mohan Kadti, and 50–60 other Maoists from the Western Bastar Division. Security forces launched a planned anti-Maoist offensive, resulting in the death of six militants, while some senior leaders managed to escape.

SP Jitendra Yadav confirmed that the slain included Urmila and Buchanna, among others. Urmila, who carried a bounty of ₹8 lakh, was an active member of the Pamedd Area Committee, one of the organization’s most violent units. She played a central role in enforcing Maoist ideology, recruiting new members through intimidation, and maintaining local support for the movement.

Strategic Role and Impact

Urmila’s responsibilities extended beyond logistics. She coordinated supplies for the PLGA Battalion and was active in the political wing of the Maoist organization. Her elimination delivers a dual blow to the group—crippling both the Pamedd Area Committee’s operations and the PLGA Battalion’s supply chain.

Arms and Materials Recovered

Security forces recovered the following from the encounter site:

• Two INSAS rifles with five magazines
• One 9mm carbine with three magazines
• One .303 rifle with a magazine
• One single-shot rifle and one 12-bore gun
• Explosive materials, grenades, safety fuses
• Radio sets, scanners, multimeters
• Maoist literature, uniforms, and medical supplies

Officials reported that 144 Maoists have been killed, 499 arrested, and 560 surrendered in Bijapur alone this year.

Naxals Cornered in Bastar

IG Sundarraj P. stated that in the last 20 months across Bastar’s seven districts, security forces have neutralized 447 Maoists, including members of the Central Committee, DKZC members, and PLGA cadres. He emphasized, “Our goal is clear—a peaceful and Naxal-free Bastar. The Maoist organization is now completely cornered with no option left other than abandoning violence and rejoining the mainstream.”