A seemingly normal day escalated into a dramatic clash on April 2, 2025, two women Maoists met their end in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla district, close to the pristine Kanha Tiger Reserve.

The encounter, unfolding in the dense forests of Bichhiya, pitted security forces against insurgents in a region long plagued by Maoist unrest. Identified as Pramilla and Mamta, the slain rebels were no small fry—each carried a ₹14 lakh bounty, signaling their prominence in the outlawed movement.

The operation kicked off when police, acting on intelligence, zeroed in on a Maoist hideout. What followed was a fierce exchange of gunfire, leaving the two women dead and their comrades scattered. Recovered from the scene were a wireless set and an assortment of arms, underscoring the group’s readiness for conflict. The Bichhiya area, nestled near the tiger reserve’s buffer zone, has been a hotspot for such insurgent activity, its rugged terrain offering cover to those evading the law.

This encounter marks another chapter in the state’s relentless campaign to dismantle Maoist networks, which have long exploited central India’s tribal belts. For locals, it’s a double-edged sword—while some see the rebels as fighting for their rights, others yearn for peace and development.

The Kanha Tiger Reserve, famed for its wildlife, now finds itself an unintended backdrop to this human drama. As security forces tighten their grip, the question lingers: will this be a turning point, or just another skirmish in an endless war?