Maharashtra Police confirmed that the exchange of fire occurred during a search operation launched in the Abujhmad forest region in the early hours of February 6. Personnel of the elite C-60 commando unit came under fire from Maoists, triggering a gun battle. In the encounter, three armed Maoists were neutralised.
During the operation, C-60 constable Deepak Chinna Madavi (38) sustained serious injuries. He was airlifted by helicopter to the Bhamragarh sub-district hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Another commando was injured and is currently undergoing medical care. His condition is reported to be stable.
Security forces recovered an AK-47 rifle and an SLR from the encounter site. Police said the identities of the slain Maoists are yet to be confirmed. A search operation is continuing in the surrounding forest areas to rule out the presence of additional cadres.
Officials said the encounter is part of intensified operations against Maoist groups operating along the inter-state border, a region known for dense forests and difficult terrain that has historically provided cover to insurgents.
The latest operation comes a day after security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district killed senior Maoist commander Udhham Singh in a separate encounter on February 5. Singh, a DVCM-ranked leader and commander of Platoon No. 30, was wanted for his role in the 2021 Tekulgudem attack in which 22 security personnel were killed. He carried a reward of ₹8 lakh.
According to police data, sustained counter-insurgency efforts have significantly weakened Maoist networks in the Bastar region. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Dr Jitendra Kumar Yadav said that 163 Maoists were killed in the district in 2025, while 11 have been neutralised so far in 2026. Since January 2024, a total of 232 Maoists have been killed, 1,163 arrested, and 888 have surrendered and joined the mainstream.
Security agencies said operations will continue across border districts of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Odisha, with a focus on dismantling leadership structures and disrupting movement corridors. Authorities reiterated their commitment to sustained action while paying tribute to the martyred commando.
