CG Naxal Encounter: Naxal sniper Sodhi Kanna with a bounty of 8 lakhs killed, major operation in National Park
Eight Lakh Rupee Bounty on Naxalite’s Head: A Major Victory in Chhattisgarh’s National Park
A major operation unfolds in the heart of a national park.-Security forces have achieved a significant victory in a recent encounter in the Bijapur-Dantewada border region of Chhattisgarh. A joint operation led to the elimination of Sodhi Kanna, a notorious Naxalite with a bounty of 800,000 rupees on his head. Kanna, the deputy commander of PLGA Battalion No. 1, was a skilled sniper and key figure in the Naxalite movement. A large cache of weapons and explosives were also recovered.
The Operation: A Carefully Planned Assault-Following credible intelligence on July 4th, a combined team comprising the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from Bijapur-Dantewada, the Special Task Force (STF), Cobra commandos, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a search operation. After carefully confirming the presence of Naxalites in the remote areas of the national park, a series of intermittent encounters ensued, ultimately resulting in Sodhi Kanna’s death. The operation lasted several hours.
Sodhi Kanna: A Dangerous Naxalite Commander-Sodhi Kanna was a deputy commander in the Naxalite battalion, actively operating in the Tekalgudam region. A close associate of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, he was involved in several major attacks, notably the Dharmaram camp attack. His expertise as a sniper made him a significant threat.
A Significant Arms Cache Recovered-Following the encounter, security forces recovered a large quantity of Naxalite materials. This included a .303 rifle, five live cartridges, an AK-47 magazine with 59 rounds, detonators, wires, safety fuses, a radio, and Naxalite literature. The discovery suggests the Naxalites were planning a major operation.
Consistent Success Against Naxalites-According to Bastar Range IG Sundarraj P., security forces have eliminated over 415 Naxalites in the last 18 months. This demonstrates the continuous efforts of the DRG, STF, CoBRA, BSF, and ITBP in combating Naxalite insurgency. Operations continue relentlessly, even during the monsoon season.
Undeterred by Difficult Terrain-Despite challenging conditions—rain, slippery terrain, and dense jungle—security forces remain committed to their operations. They demonstrate unwavering resolve, pushing into Naxalite strongholds to neutralize threats. The trust and support of the local population are crucial to the success of these operations.
