10 Maoists Killed in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband, 16 Surrender In Narayanpur

Ten Maoists were killed on Wednesday during an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district. The gun battle took place in the forest area under Mainpur police station limits when security personnel launched an anti-Maoist operation, Raipur Range Inspector General of Police Amresh Mishra confirmed.

"Personnel from the Special Task Force (STF), CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action of CRPF) and state police units are engaged in the operation. Intermittent exchange of fire is still underway," Mishra said.

In a separate development earlier in the day, 16 Maoists surrendered in Narayanpur district. They gave themselves up before senior police officials on Wednesday evening.

According to Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Robinson Guria, the cadres expressed disillusionment with the "hollow" Maoist ideology, internal rifts within the banned outfit, and the atrocities committed against innocent tribals as their reasons for surrender.

All 16 were lower-rung members but played vital roles in sustaining the insurgency. They were associated with different wings of the Maoist structure, including the Janatana Sarkar, Chetna Natya Mandli, and panchayat militia units, Guria added.

While their rank in the hierarchy was not high, officials noted that such cadres are critical in maintaining the Maoist network at the grassroots level.