# Chhattisgarh Court Sentences 25 Lakh Bounty Naxal Leader Prabhakar Rao and Wife to 7 Years in 2015 Korar Ambush Case > A special court in Chhattisgarh has sentenced top Naxal cadre Prabhakar Rao, his wife Raje Kange, and three others to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for a deadly 2015 ambush on security forces. **Type:** article · **Category:** Chhattisgarh · **Published:** 2026-09-09 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/chhattisgarh/chhattisgarh-ke-2015-korar-naksali-hamala-mamale-men-bara-phaisala-25-lakha-ke-inami-prabhakar-rao-aura-patni-raje-kange-ko-7-sala-30075 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Kanker Naxal Ambush, Prabhakar Rao, Raje Kange, Chhattisgarh Court Verdict, UAPA Sentence, Korar Police Station, Bastar Naxalism A special court in Chhattisgarh has delivered a landmark verdict in a nine-year-old case involving a deadly Naxalite ambush on security forces in Kanker district. Special Judge Vibha Pandey, presiding over the NIA Act and Scheduled Offences Court, found five individuals guilty based on the presented evidence, witness testimonies, and police case diaries. Among those convicted are high-ranking Naxalite commander Prabhakar Rao and his wife Raje Kange, both of whom played central roles in orchestrating armed resistance against state authorities in the region. ## Court Sentence and Legal Charges According to the judicial order, primary convict Prabhakar Rao and his wife Raje Kange received a two-year prison sentence under Section 147 of the Indian Penal Code for rioting. Additionally, the special court sentenced both individuals to seven years of rigorous imprisonment under Sections 38(2) and 39(2) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Three other co-accused were also convicted for their involvement in the armed assault, concluding a lengthy judicial process that spanned nearly a decade. ## Four Decades of Insurgency in Bastar The convicted couple had operated a formidable insurgent network across the dense forests of the Bastar division for over 40 years. Police records reveal that Prabhakar Rao, who served as a Special Zonal Committee Member (SZDCM), faced 64 serious criminal charges in Kanker district alone. His criminal file included cases of murder, attempted murder, dacoity, landmine detonations, and armed robbery. Due to his extensive involvement in violent activities, the state government had placed a bounty of ₹25 lakh on his capture. His wife, Raje Kange, held the rank of Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) and was equally influential within the illegal organization. Law enforcement agencies had registered 36 grave criminal cases against her for participating in ambushes and insurgency operations. The administration had announced a reward of ₹8 lakh for information leading to her arrest. Together, the couple carried a combined bounty of ₹33 lakh, reflecting the severity of the security threat they posed across the region. ## The 2015 Korar Ambush Sequence The incident dates back to 2015 in the Korar police station area of Kanker district, a territory then characterized by rugged terrain and heavy forest cover that served as a Naxalite stronghold. A joint contingent of district police and security personnel had ventured into the Korar forests on a routine patrolling mission. However, insurgent leadership had received advance intelligence regarding the movement of the security forces. Prabhakar Rao and Raje Kange arranged an armed squad in a pre-planned ambush behind rock formations and thick foliage. As soon as the patrol team entered the designated strike zone, the insurgents initiated indiscriminate firing without warning. The attackers also attempted to detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting the advancing security personnel in a bid to inflict heavy casualties. ## Retaliation by Security Personnel and Legal Timeline Despite the suddenness of the assault, the security forces responded swiftly by taking tactical positions and opening fire on the ambushers. Facing fierce counter-firing from the joint patrol, the insurgents realized they were being overwhelmed. Capitalizing on the dense canopy, hilly terrain, and fading light, Prabhakar Rao, Raje Kange, and their accomplices fled deep into the wilderness. Following the encounter, law enforcement registered a case at the Korar police station under charges of attempted murder, rioting, the Explosives Act, and UAPA. Police investigators gathered forensic and circumstantial evidence over the following years, culminating in the special court's conviction after nine years of legal proceedings. ## What this means for you This judicial outcome marks a significant milestone in counter-insurgency efforts and reinforces the rule of law across Naxal-affected regions in Chhattisgarh. - **Across India:** The conviction of top-tier Naxal leaders sends a firm message to insurgent networks operating across the country. It boosts the morale of security forces and strengthens national anti-Naxal strategy. - **In Chhattisgarh:** Local residents in Kanker and the broader Bastar region gain relief from decades of insurgent intimidation. This verdict is expected to accelerate infrastructure development and public services in Korar. - **For Security Forces:** Timely judicial convictions reinforce the confidence of police and paramilitary personnel deployed on frontline duties. It ensures that tactical operational efforts result in legal accountability. - **For Criminal Justice:** Securing convictions in a complex nine-year-old ambush case demonstrates the efficacy of systematic evidence gathering and case management under special acts. ## Why this happened This verdict stems from a pre-planned 2015 armed assault on a joint security patrol and the subsequent nine-year judicial process under special legislation. - **Planned 2015 Ambush:** High-ranking cadres Prabhakar Rao and Raje Kange ambushed a joint police patrol in Korar forest, firing indiscriminately and attempting an IED attack. - **Four Decades of Insurgency:** The couple carried a combined bounty of ₹33 lakh with 64 and 36 pending criminal cases respectively, making them high-priority targets for law enforcement. - **Comprehensive Evidence Evaluation:** Special Judge Vibha Pandey reviewed detailed witness testimonies, case diaries, and forensic filings submitted under the NIA Act framework. - **Convictions Under Strict Statutes:** The court established guilt under UAPA Sections 38(2) and 39(2) along with IPC Section 147, culminating in seven-year rigorous imprisonment sentences. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. What is the 2015 Korar Naxal ambush case? The case relates to a 2015 incident where Naxalites ambushed a joint security police patrol in the Korar forests of Kanker district, Chhattisgarh. ### 2. What sentence did the special court hand down to the main accused? The special court sentenced top Naxal leader Prabhakar Rao and his wife Raje Kange to seven years of rigorous imprisonment under UAPA and rioting charges. ### 3. What was the total bounty announced on the convicted couple? A bounty of ₹25 lakh was placed on Prabhakar Rao and ₹8 lakh on his wife Raje Kange, making a total combined reward of ₹33 lakh. ### 4. How many criminal cases were registered against Prabhakar Rao? According to police records, Prabhakar Rao had 64 serious criminal cases registered against him in Kanker district alone, including murder and landmine blasts. ### 5. Who delivered the judgment in this case? Special Judge Vibha Pandey of the NIA Act and Scheduled Offences Court delivered the judgment after a nine-year legal process. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._