This operation and her killing turned out to be a big success because Jamuna was one of the accused involved ... Read More

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh police gunned down a 45-year-old hard-core woman Maoist, identified as Jamuna , who was allegedly involved in the killing of then transport minister Lakhiram Kavare in December 1999 just outside his residence at his home village in Balaghat district during undivided Madhya Pradesh .

The woman cadre was identified as dreaded Maoist Jamuna who was active on borders of Chhattisgarh and Balaghat region of Madhya Pradesh as Tanda area committee secretary. She was carrying cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on her head.

Talking to TOI, Durg range Inspector General of Police Himanshu Gupta said, “It was a joint operation carried by Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh police. Based on inputs received about movement of Maoists in Gatapar region of Rajnandgaon and Madhya Pradesh borders, an anti-Maoist operation was carried and police party was dispatched on Monday night towards different directions. A joint team of Special Task Force, Chhattisgarh Armed Force, district police led by Gatapar police station inspector Laxman Kewat and Madhya Pradesh Hawk were in forests of Gatapar region during noon when they came under indiscriminate firing by the Maoists. The security personnel retaliated which led to skirmish between the two and went on for around one and half hours.”

IG Gupta added that Maoists soon took refuge into deep forest after the encounter. When the security personnel were sanitizing the area, they recovered a uniformed body of woman cadre, IG said adding that a carbine and few rounds of bullet along with daily-use material were recovered from her possession.

“The woman cadre was identified as Jamuna who was active for past 25 years in Maoist ranks and was secretary of Tanda area committee. She was carrying cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on her head. This operation and her killing turned out to be a big success because Jamuna was one of the accused involved in assassination of former transport minister Lakhiram Kavare of undivided Madhya Pradesh. Kavare was abducted and his throat slit by a group of Maoists in 1999,” IG Gupta said.

He added that Rajnandgaon additional SP GN Baghel has identified Jamuna as one of the accused in Kavare’s murder as Baghel was member of special investigation team in 1999 to solve murder of minister. Baghel said that Jamuna was active in Tanda region since 1994 and had eight warrants against her at Gatapar police station.

Maoists have recently left banners and posters in parts of Rajnandgaon region calling for boycott of Lok Sabha elections and their presence was expected, hence based on inputs, security forces were sent for search operation. Chhattisgarh goes to poll on April 11, 18 and 23.

As Rajnandgaon is considered to be a tri-junction that borders Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, it becomes a safe zone for Maoists’ movement and hold meetings.

On Monday, Maoists had ambushed CRPF personnel in Dantewada district which killed one CRPF man and injured six others.

