In a significant development, security forces have neutralized a top female Naxalite leader in an encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district. The deceased, identified as Rupi, held the position of an Area Committee Member (ACM) in the Naxalite hierarchy. A bounty of Rs 5 lakh had been placed on her head.
The encounter occurred in the Chhotebethiya area, where a firefight between police and Naxalites led to her death. Kanker Superintendent of Police Nikhil Rakhecha confirmed that Rupi was the last senior-cadre Naxalite in the Bastar region following the surrender or elimination of other high-ranking members. A weapon was recovered from the encounter site along with her body.
Despite repeated appeals for surrender and integration into mainstream society, Rupi persisted in her activities, culminating in the fatal confrontation. Naxalism has long afflicted various states, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh, causing loss of lives and impeding development. However, concerted anti-Naxal operations, enhanced intelligence sharing, and development projects have significantly altered the situation.
Over the past two years, numerous prominent Naxalite leaders have been neutralized, and many cadres have surrendered. State governments are actively implementing rehabilitation programs to assist former Naxalites in reintegrating into society for a peaceful life. With the government’s intensified efforts, India is close to eradicating Naxalism entirely, with only isolated pockets remaining.
