Gadchiroli | February 7, 2026
In one of the most significant anti-Maoist operations in recent years, the Gadchiroli Police, in coordination with C-60 commandos and CRPF units, successfully neutralised seven hardcore Maoists during a three-day, three-night operation in the extremely remote forest region of Abujhmaad along the Gadchiroli–Narayanpur border. The operation, however, also witnessed supreme sacrifice, as one C-60 commando was martyred and another sustained injuries.
According to official sources, the Maoists neutralised included Prabhakar alias Ravi alias Prakalveer, a top-ranking Maoist leader holding multiple key responsibilities within the CPI (Maoist) organisation. Collectively, the Maharashtra Government had announced a cash reward of ₹71 lakh on the neutralised Maoists.
Intelligence-Based Operation in Difficult Terrain
While Maoist activity in Gadchiroli district has largely been restricted to the border areas of Bhamragad tehsil, credible intelligence was received on February 3, 2026, indicating that remaining members of Company No. 10 and unidentified Maoists from Chhattisgarh had assembled in the forest area with intentions to carry out destructive activities.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, an Anti-Maoist Operation was launched on the night of February 3 under the leadership of Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Bhamragad, Shri Amar Mohite, with 14 C-60 teams entering the dense and hostile forest terrain despite extreme operational challenges.
Fierce Encounters Over Three Days
On February 4, during search operations, Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on police personnel. The forces retaliated in self-defence, leading to an exchange of fire that continued intermittently throughout the day. During this phase, security forces destroyed two Maoist camps and recovered a large quantity of Maoist material. Due to dense forest cover and difficult terrain, Maoists initially managed to evade capture.
The operation was intensified on February 5, with reinforcement of four additional C-60 units and one CRPF QAT unit. During continued exchanges of fire, security forces recovered the bodies of three hardcore Maoists, along with one AK-47 rifle and one SLR rifle.
On February 6, as the operation progressed further, four more bodies of hardcore Maoists were recovered from the encounter site. In total, seven Maoists were neutralised during this high-risk operation.
Supreme Sacrifice by C-60 Commando
During heavy firing by Maoists on the evening of February 5, PC/5228 Deepak Chinna Madavi, attached to C-60 Pranhita, sustained a bullet injury. He was airlifted from the deep forests of Abujhmaad to Sub-District Hospital, Bhamragad, but tragically succumbed to his injuries. He was accorded heartfelt tributes at Police Headquarters, Gadchiroli, on February 6.
Another C-60 commando, Joga Madavi, a resident of Kishtayyapalli, Gadchiroli district, also sustained bullet injuries during the operation. He was airlifted to Gadchiroli and is currently undergoing treatment; his condition is reported to be stable.
Identities of Neutralised Maoists Confirmed
The identities of all seven deceased Maoists have been confirmed:
Prabhakar @ Ravi @ Prakalveer @ Swami @ Loketi Chandarrao (57)
Native: Kamareddy, Telangana
Rank: DKSZCM, In-charge of West Sub-Zonal Bureau & Company No. 10
Reward: ₹25 lakh
Criminal cases: 113 (including 73 encounters, 13 murders)
Pagu Modyam (30)
Native: Bijapur, Chhattisgarh
Rank: CYPC / Commander, Company No. 05
Reward: ₹16 lakh
Anila @ Budari Kowachi (24)
Native: Sukma, Chhattisgarh
Rank: PPCM, personal guard of Prabhakar
Reward: ₹8 lakh
Kamesh Pada (35)
Native: Sukma, Chhattisgarh
Rank: PPCM, Commander – Special Platoon Maad Area
Reward: ₹8 lakh
Bhajnath @ Bhima Holi (40)
Native: Sukma, Chhattisgarh
Rank: ACM, Paralkot LOS
Reward: ₹6 lakh
Mangali Kursam
Native: West Bastar, Chhattisgarh
Rank: Party Member, Company No. 10
Reward: ₹4 lakh
Jogi Sodhi / Madavi (27)
Native: Bijapur, Chhattisgarh
Rank: Party Member, Company No. 05
Reward: ₹4 lakh
Massive Seizure of Arms and Explosives
Security forces recovered a significant cache of weapons and Maoist material from the encounter site, including:
AK-47 rifles – 03
SLR – 01
.303 rifle – 01
Live rounds – 173
BGLs – 03
Magazines – 07
Cortex wire – 02 bundles
Gelatin sticks – 10
Maoist literature and other belongings
Senior Leadership Oversight and Continued Operations
The successful operation was conducted under the guidance of ADG (Special Operations) Dr. Chhering Dorje, Special IGP ANO Shri Sandip Patil, DIG Gadchiroli Range Shri Ankit Goyal, DIG (Ops.) CRPF Shri Ajai Kumar Sharma, and SP Gadchiroli Shri Neelotpal, with active supervision by senior officers including Additional SP (Ops.) Shri M. Ramesh and Additional SP (Administration) Shri Gokul Raj G.
Anti-Maoist operations in the region are being further intensified. Since 2021, sustained efforts by Gadchiroli Police have resulted in 99 Maoists neutralised, 140 arrested, and 153 surrendered.
SP Gadchiroli Shri Neelotpal once again appealed to the remaining Maoists to lay down arms, surrender, and join the mainstream of development.
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