Three women Maoists killed in Chattisgarh encounter

Three female members of the Maoist movement in India were killed on Sunday in the Dantewada area of Chattisgarh. The three women, who collectively have a bounty on their heads worth 15 lakh, exchanged fire with security forces patrolling the area and we're killed shortly after. The deceased have been identified as Raje Muchaki, Geeta Markam and Jyoti Nuppo, who were members of the Katekalyan area committee of the Maoists.

The District Reserve Guard (DRG) forces had been patrolling the area surrounding the Katekalyan police station after reports of Maoists mapping out the area emerged said Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava to PTI. One 12 bore gun, two country-made revolvers, one muzzle-loading gun, two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), wires, medicines, Maoist literature and items of daily use were also recovered from the encounter site, he said.

The gunfight began at round 6 PM in a forest between Adwal and Kunjeras villages below Katekalyan police station limits. The bodies of the Maoists were removed following the gunfight. Earlier this month, Maoist leaders in Chattisgarh had vowed to defy increased military presence in the area following the implementation of Amit Shah's anti-Naxal policy.