A supporter of violence, Maoist leader Sodhi Kanna killed in anti-insurgency operation in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor*

In a major anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, a senior Maoist commander identified as Sodhi Kanna was killed during a joint offensive by security forces in the National Park area. Multiple exchanges of fire occurred as security forces moved through the forested terrain in search of armed cadres. The combing operation continues across the region.

Kanna held the rank of deputy commander in Company No. 02 of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion No. 01 and was also a divisional committee member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). His body was recovered from the encounter site, along with a .303 rifle, by a joint team comprising District Reserve Guard (DRG) units from Bijapur and Dantewada, the Special Task Force (STF), CRPF’s Cobra 202 and 210 battalions, and the Young Platoon.

Originally from the tribal areas of Bastar, Kanna had been involved in Maoist activities for several years. He was known to have played a role in organizing local political activity and was involved in armed operations, including the Tekalgudiyam encounter and the attack on the Dharmaram camp. Reports suggest he worked closely with senior Maoist leader Madvi Hidma and served as a sniper in the PLGA.

Kanna was active in initiatives such as political education, health, and agricultural outreach within areas influenced by the Maoist movement. He was associated with efforts to establish parallel administrative structures in the form of mass organizations and people’s councils in parts of Dandakaranya.

According to Maoist sources and sympathisers, Kanna’s involvement in the insurgency stemmed from long-standing grievances around displacement, land rights, and access to resources among tribal communities in central India. The Maoist movement views armed struggle as a response to what it terms as the exploitation and marginalization of these communities.

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*Freelance journalist

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