Bhopal: Four hardcore Maoists, killed in an encounter with security forces in the Supkhar forest division of Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district on February 19, have been identified, police said on Thursday.
The four slain Naxals were identified as Asha, Sarita alias Sheela, Raneeta and Lakhe Maravi and they cumulatively carried a bounty of Rs 92 lakhs in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, a senior police officer in Balaghat district said.
While Asha was commander of Bhoramdeo area committee carrying a bounty of Rs 20 lakh in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, the remaining three ultras were area committee members functioning under Bhoramdeo area committee, carrying a reward of Rs 14 lakh each in these three states.
This was the first time; four Maoists were killed in an encounter in Balaghat district.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs on the presence of around two dozen Maoists in Gadhi area under Supkhar forest division, a joint security party comprising Hawk force, anti-Naxal wing of Madhya Pradesh police, CRPF and CoBRA (Combat Battalion for Resolute Action) launched a search operation in the area on Wednesday.
The joint search party came under attack by Maoists in the forest leading to an encounter that lasted nearly six hours, police said.
Later, security forces recovered bodies of three Maoists along with automatic weapons.
