Madhya Pradesh’s elite Hawk Force lost one of its finest officers on Wednesday morning when Inspector Ashish Sharma, aged just 30, succumbed to multiple bullet wounds during an intense gun battle with armed Maoist cadres in the thick Kanger Ghati forests near the tri-junction of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. The decorated officer, who had already earned two gallantry medals from the central government and an out-of-turn promotion earlier this year, was leading a joint anti-Naxal operation when the firefight erupted around 8:30 am.

Despite being struck by bullets in the shoulder, abdomen, thigh, and hands, Sharma displayed extraordinary courage by refusing to retreat. Bleeding heavily, he continued to command his team, providing covering fire and directing movements against the insurgents hiding behind dense forest cover until he finally collapsed. Fellow officers immediately carried him to safety and rushed him to Dongargarh community health centre in Rajnandgaon district, with a helicopter ambulance kept on standby for emergency airlift to a specialised facility. Doctors fought desperately to save him, but the injuries proved fatal.

The encounter was part of a large-scale coordinated search operation launched on specific intelligence inputs about the movement of 13–15 heavily armed Maoists in the border region. Subsequent combing revealed large pools of blood, abandoned backpacks, weapons, and other material, strongly indicating that the Maoist group suffered significant casualties or injuries. Security forces from all three states have intensified operations to track down the remaining insurgents and prevent any escape.

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A native of Gadarwara in Narsinghpur district, Sharma had joined the Madhya Pradesh Police as a sub-inspector nine years ago and rapidly rose through the ranks due to his exceptional bravery. His leadership in the February 19 operation in Balaghat’s Raunda forests, which neutralised four hardcore women Maoists, had earned him nationwide recognition and swift promotion to inspector. Tragically, he was scheduled to marry in January 2026, making his sacrifice even more heartbreaking for his family and colleagues.

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav led the tributes, describing Sharma’s valour as unprecedented and stating that his supreme sacrifice in the nation’s campaign to eradicate Naxalism would remain forever unforgettable. From top police officials to political leaders, condolences poured in for the fallen hero who fought with unwavering resolve until his very last breath.

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