The Maoists claimed that 35 of their cadres were killed during the encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmad forest on October 4, four more than police had estimated. Police had earlier said that 31 Maoists, including 18 men and 13 women, were killed in the encounter.

In a letter issued by the CPI (Maoist) East Bastar Division on Sunday, the Maoists named all the deceased cadres and said other cadres were injured in the encounter.

The encounter took place on the borders of Narayanpur and Dantewada.

A senior Maoist leader, Niti alias Urmila, who was carrying a bounty of ₹25 lakh on his head – a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and East Bastar in-charge of the CPI (Maoist) were among the deceased. She is the fourth DKSZC member killed in a clash this year in the state.

The police had also claimed to have recovered one light machine gun (LMG), four AK-47s, six self-loading rifles (SLRs), three INSAS rifles, two .303 rifles and several other caliber rifles, including local weapons.

Meanwhile, Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Rai has appealed to the Maoists, urging them to surrender and join the mainstream.

The encounter comes as a major setback for Naxal leaders as security forces have penetrated deep into their strongholds in the Abujhmad forest.

So far in 2024, a total of 189 Naxalite bodies have been recovered, 706 arrested and 733 surrendered during anti-Naxalite operations in Bastar division.