In a significant blow to Left Wing Extremism in the region, security forces gunned down more than ten Maoists during a fierce encounter in the forests of Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Saturday. The operation, which was ongoing at the time of reporting, has resulted in one of the highest casualty figures for insurgents in the district in recent times.
Details of the Sukma Gunfight
The firefight erupted in the dense jungles of the Konta–Kistaram area following a precise intelligence tip-off about the presence of armed cadres. Acting on this information, teams of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) launched a targeted anti-Maoist operation. Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan confirmed the engagement, stating that heavy exchange of fire took place in the challenging forested terrain.
As the security forces gained control of the area, they conducted searches and recovered the bodies of ten Maoists. The recoveries also included a cache of automatic weapons such as AK-47 and INSAS rifles. Initial reports had put the death toll at three, but subsequent updates confirmed that the number had risen to twelve.
Key Commander Among the Fatalities
Preliminary investigations indicate that among those neutralized was Sachin Mangdu, identified as a member of the pivotal Konta Area Committee of the Maoists. In a major development, police sources stated that the operations have led to the neutralization of all Maoist commanders who were allegedly involved in the killing of Konta Assistant Superintendent of Police Akash Rao Girepunje.
SP Kiran Chavan is personally overseeing the operations on the ground. While the core engagement has subsided, combing and search operations continue in the surrounding regions to ensure no hidden cadres remain. A comprehensive official statement is awaited once the operation formally concludes.
Simultaneous Action in Bijapur District
In a separate incident underscoring the intensified counter-insurgency push, two Maoists were killed in an encounter in the southern part of Bijapur district. This operation, which entered its final stages, began after security forces acted on specific intelligence about armed Maoist presence.
A DRG team was deployed, leading to an exchange of fire that started around 5 am and continued intermittently. The bodies of the two insurgents were recovered from the site during subsequent searches. Authorities have temporarily withheld specific operational details like the exact location and force strength, citing the safety of the personnel involved as the operation is still active.
Security forces are conducting extensive combing operations in the adjacent forest areas of Bijapur as well. Officials have assured that a detailed report will be provided upon the formal conclusion of the action.
Ongoing Security Push
These twin encounters mark a continued and aggressive stance by security forces against Maoist insurgency in the conflict-affected regions of Chhattisgarh. The successful operations, particularly in Sukma, which targeted the local leadership structure, are seen as a critical step in dismantling the militant network in the area. The state police and central forces remain on high alert, with a focus on intelligence-based operations to maintain pressure on the extremist groups.
