Security Forces Strike Major Blow Against Naxalites in Bijapur
In a significant counter-insurgency operation, security personnel eliminated six Naxalites during an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Tuesday. The gunfight marks another successful step in the state's ongoing campaign against left-wing extremism.
Operation Details and Firefight
The confrontation began around 10 am in the Indravati National Park area when a joint team of security forces, acting on specific intelligence about the presence of senior Maoist cadres, launched an anti-Naxalite operation. According to Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav, personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of Bijapur and Dantewada districts, along with the Special Task Force (STF), were involved in the initial action.
The exchange of fire continued intermittently for several hours. After the confrontation subsided, a search of the encounter site revealed the bodies of the six Maoists along with a significant cache of weapons. The recovered arsenal included an INSAS rifle, sten guns, a .303 rifle, and various explosives.
Reinforcements and Ongoing Efforts
Following the initial engagement, additional teams from DRG, STF, Bastar Fighters, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) were swiftly deployed to cordon off the area and apprehend any fleeing Maoist cadres. SP Yadav confirmed that the operation was still underway as security forces continued their combing activities in the region.
In a separate but related development from Bijapur district, security forces apprehended an injured Naxalite following another encounter in the forest of Annaram village in the Tarlaguda area. The captured Maoist received medical treatment at a local hospital.
Political Leadership Applauds Security Forces
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai took to social media platform X to commend the security forces for their successful operation. He described the encounter as a major success in the direction of completely eradicating the Maoist menace from the state and the country.
"The campaign against the Maoist insurgency continues, and Naxalism is coming to an end," CM Sai stated in his post. "It is the resolve of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji to end Naxalism from the country and the state by March 31, 2026. We are achieving success in fulfilling this resolve."
This operation contributes to the growing tally of Naxalite casualties in Chhattisgarh this year. With these six neutralizations, the total number of Naxalites killed in encounters in Chhattisgarh in 2024 has reached 259. The majority of these casualties (230) have occurred in the Bastar division, which includes seven districts including Bijapur.
The operation follows the significant elimination of two senior Naxal leaders, Raju Dada alias Katta Ramachandra Reddy and Kosa Dada alias Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy, both Central Committee members of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), in Narayanpur district on September 22.
