A ‘deputy commander’ of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), carrying a cash reward of INR 800,000 lakh on his head, was killed by the Security Forces (SFs) while a District Reserve Guard (DRG) Jawan received minor injuries in an exchange of fire in the Katekalyan forest area near Pitepal village of Dantewada District in Chhattisgarh on October 8, reports The Times of India. The slain Maoist was identified as Kawasi Deva, ‘deputy commander’ of Platoon No. 26 of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the 'military wing’ of CPI-Maoist. He was earlier active as Kanger Valley ‘area committee member’ (ACM). As per the sources, a group of Maoists were heading towards Sukma District along the Jagdalpur road to carry out a major attack on SFs when they were intercepted. The Deputy Inspector General (DIG, Anti-Maoist operations), P. Sundarraj said, “Hundreds of District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel were out on the mission, based on specific input about rebels from PLGA Platoon No. 26 camping in the said forest”. When the target area was being cordoned off, the SFs spotted the rebels near the village and challenged them. A gun-battle broke out between the two sides that lasted around 45 minutes. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Maoists retreated deeper into the forest, said the DIG. While searching the area, the SFs recovered the uniformed body of the slain Maoist along with a country-made pistol and two magazines each of the INSAS and SLR rifles. According to a senior Police Official, an Assistant Constable of DRG, Kailash Netam also died during the encounter after he suffered a fatal heart attack.