Bijapur, June 5 -- In a significant success for anti-Naxal operations, top Naxal leader and Central Committee Member (CCM) Gautam, also known as Sudhakar, was neutralised in an intense exchange of fire with security forces in the National Park area of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Thursday, according to Bastar Inspector General of Police, P Sundarraj.

He was also carrying a bounty of Rs 40 lakhs on his head, the police official added.

During the post-encounter search, security personnel recovered an AK-47 rifle, along with a significant quantity of explosive materials, arms, and ammunition from the site.

The encounter involved a joint operation by the Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Guard (DRG), and Commando Battalion f...