Nagpur: In a big blow to the last standing guerrillas in the fallen Maoist headquarters of Abujmarh, security forces shot dead a hardened People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) leader, Prabhakar, along with 3 women and 3 male cadres. While the rebel toll rose to seven, security forces lost a C-60 commando, Deepak Chinna Madavi, 38, who took a bullet in his chest while neutralising two heavily armed guerrillas in close combat in the 72-hour operation deep inside Abujmarh forests. A profusely bleeding Deepak Madavi was airlifted to Bhamragad sub-district hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. Another wounded jawan, Joga Madavi, however, is responding well to treatment.Prabhakar, who engineered at least 60 ambushes of policemen over three decades and carried a bounty of ₹25 lakh, held key positions, including charge of Gadchiroli division committee and the dreaded Company No. 10, say top sources. Born in Kamareddy in Telangana, Prabhakar was initially part of the 61-member surrender group led by former Maoist ideologue, Bhupathi, but slipped out of the convoy along with five other rebels in September last year. He had been evading capture, despite intense pressure from security forces.The operation unfolded in the dense forests of Abujmarh with elite C-60 commandos of Gadchiroli Police escalating the operation in the last 48 hours. While the prize catch, Prabhakar, was identified, names of slain cadres are yet to be confirmed. Weapons seized from the site included 3 AK-47 rifles, 1 SLR, and 1 .303 rifle, underscoring the armed nature of the group.The operation effectively dismantled the last active Maoist pocket in the region, with authorities confirming that only two more guerrillas remain on record in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli area. The deceased C-60 commando, Deepak Madavi, was accorded full state honours at Gadchiroli police headquarters on Friday and his body was sent to his native Aheri village, where he will be cremated.
