BHOPAL: In a major breakthrough the Hawk Force in Madhya Pradesh eliminated a top Naxalite leader identified as Sohan alias Ukas alias Ayatu, during an encounter in the Kothiyatola forest of Balaghat district on Monday.
Acting on intelligence reports suggesting Naxalite activity, the Hawk Force launched a search operation in the Kothiyatola forest. They encountered a group of roughly 10-12 individuals in plain clothes suspected to be Naxalites.When approached for questioning, the group opened fire on the Hawk Force, ADG (Intelligence) Jaideep Prasad told the media.
In self-defence, the Hawk Force personnel engaged in a firefight. While the Naxalites managed to escape into the dense forest cover, a search operation led to the recovery of Sohan’s body. The possibility of injuries among other Naxalites remains under investigation, with a search operation ongoing.
Officials claim Sohan, a 30-year-old resident of Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, was a highly skilled IED maker and a prominent figure within the Naxalite movement. He held the position of Area Committee Member (ACM) for the KB division and carried a reward of Rs 14 lakh on his head.
Sohan had a long history of involvement with Naxalite activities since 2013. He joined the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and rose through the ranks. In 2019, he was entrusted with a role as an associate to a Central Committee member. He was known to be involved in multiple violent incidents across Chhattisgarh and was facing eight criminal charges in Madhya Pradesh alone. Investigations are underway to determine the extent of his criminal activity in other states.
This encounter marks the third major success for Madhya Pradesh Police under the leadership of chief minister Dr Mohan Yadav, according to an official release.
Officials claim the Chief Minister has consistently emphasized eradicating Naxalism and has taken steps to boost police morale, including awarding out-of-turn promotions to officers involved in previous successful encounters.
The past two years have seen a significant rise in MP Police’s effectiveness against Naxalism. The number of Naxalites neutralized surpasses the total number eliminated in the past two decades. For the first time, the state police successfully killed three high-ranking Naxalites and recovered AK-47 rifles.
