The toll from a major security operation in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district has climbed significantly. Security forces have recovered the bodies of six more Naxalites, bringing the total number of insurgents killed in the encounter to fifteen. The fierce gunfight, which also claimed the lives of three state police personnel, now has a combined death toll of eighteen.
Details of the Bijapur Encounter
The violent clash took place on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, in the dense forests of Bijapur, a region long affected by left-wing extremism. Personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a specialized unit of the Chhattisgarh police, were involved in the operation based on specific intelligence about Naxalite presence. The exchange of fire was intense and prolonged.
In the immediate aftermath, security forces had confirmed the deaths of nine Naxalites and three DRG personnel. However, during subsequent search operations in the challenging terrain on Thursday, forces discovered six additional bodies of Naxalites. This discovery has pushed the final count from the encounter sharply upward.
Rising Toll and Ongoing Operations
The recovery of the six bodies underscores the scale of the engagement. With these latest findings, the number of Naxalites neutralized in this single operation stands at fifteen. The three brave DRG personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice are yet to be officially named. Security forces remain deployed in the area, conducting thorough sanitization and search operations to ensure no threats remain.
This encounter is one of the most significant in recent months in the state. It highlights the continued challenges faced by security forces in the region and the persistent, though diminishing, threat posed by Naxalite groups in certain pockets of Chhattisgarh.
Context and Aftermath
Bijapur district falls within the Bastar region, which has been the epicenter of Maoist insurgency in India for decades. Operations by the DRG and central forces like the CRPF are frequent. The success in this operation, though tempered by the loss of three personnel, is being viewed as a major setback for the Naxalite cadre in the area.
The state police have stated that a large cache of weapons and Maoist literature was also recovered from the encounter site. The identities of the deceased Naxalites are being ascertained. The bodies of the security personnel are being transported with full state honors, while the process of identifying and handing over the Naxalite bodies is underway as per protocol.
This incident is likely to intensify security strategies and discussions in the state, balancing counter-insurgency measures with developmental outreach in these remote regions.
