22 Maoists Killed in Separate Encounters in Chhattisgarh

New Delhi: At least 22 Maoists were killed on Thursday in two separate encounters by security forces in Chhattisgarh. The operations took place in the Bijapur and Kanker districts.

The first operation unfolded in Bijapur district, where a joint team launched an anti-Naxalite operation in the Gangalur police station area early in the morning. At around 7:00 am, a gunfight broke out between the Naxalites and security forces, resulting in the death of a District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan. Despite the loss, the forces continued their operation, recovering the bodies of 18 Naxalites along with a large quantity of weapons and ammunition. Authorities have initiated a search operation in the area, and efforts are ongoing to clear the region of any remaining insurgents.

Meanwhile, in the Kanker district, security forces eliminated four Naxalites in an encounter near Koroskodo village, in the Chhotebethiya police station area. This encounter comes as part of ongoing operations to dismantle Naxal networks in the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the success of the security forces, on X. He congratulated the forces and described the operation as a significant step towards a “Naxal-Mukt” (Naxal-free) India. "Twenty-two Naxalites were killed in two separate operations of our security forces in Bijapur and Kanker of Chhattisgarh," he tweeted.

Shah also reiterated the government's stance on Naxal violence, stressing that the Modi administration is adopting a ruthless approach against Naxalites who refuse to surrender despite opportunities for reintegration. "The country is going to be Naxal-free before 31 March next year," he added.

IED Blast Narrowly Misses Security Forces

In another development, a joint security team narrowly escaped harm in a separate attack in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district. Maoists detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Abujhmaad area, targeting a team of DRG and Special Task Force (STF) personnel who were conducting an anti-Naxal operation. Although no serious injuries were reported, two policemen were evacuated from the scene for medical treatment following the blast, which occurred at around 3:00 am.