CPI (Maoist) leader Paka Hanumanthu was killed in Odisha, leaving the party’s leadership weakened, with only two active leaders remaining.
CPI (Maoist) Loses Another Key Member, Security Officials Say
Bijapur, Chhattisgarh | December 27, 2025
Vagabond News | Internal Security Desk
The CPI (Maoist) has lost another senior operative following a security operation in Chhattisgarh, officials said on Friday, marking the latest setback for the outlawed group amid intensified counterinsurgency efforts in India’s Left Wing Extremism–affected regions.
According to the Chhattisgarh Police, the Maoist member—described as a key area committee functionary—was either killed during an encounter or later succumbed to injuries sustained during a joint operation in Bijapur district. Authorities said the individual played a significant role in logistics, recruitment, and coordination of armed squads in the Bastar division.
The name of the Maoist cadre has not yet been officially released, pending verification and internal documentation, police said.
The operation involved personnel from the CRPF, including elite CoBRA units, along with state police forces, following intelligence inputs about Maoist movement in the forested border areas of Bijapur and Dantewada.
Security officials said weapons, ammunition, and Maoist propaganda material were recovered from the site, reinforcing assessments that the slain cadre held operational importance within the CPI (Maoist) hierarchy.
“This is part of a sustained campaign to dismantle the Maoist leadership structure from the top down,” a senior police official involved in the operation said. “The group has suffered repeated losses over the past year, particularly in Bastar.”
The development comes amid a broader security push by central and state forces aimed at eliminating Maoist influence across Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, and parts of Maharashtra. Official data show a steady decline in Maoist-initiated violence and territorial control, though sporadic attacks continue.
Authorities said search operations in the area remain ongoing and warned residents against circulating unverified claims on social media while forces continue to secure the region.
