A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) ‘commander’, identified as Hidma Muchaki, carrying a reward of INR 500,000 on his head was killed in an exchange of fire with Security Forces (SFs) in a forest between Chikpal and Marjum villages in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on January 13, reports The Pioneer. The gunfight broke out when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) was on an anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] operation in the area. After the exchange of fire, the body of the slain Maoist was recovered along with a 9 mm pistol from the spot. Muchaki was an active member of the ‘Katekalyan Area Committee’ of Maoists and was involved in several incidents.