Bijapur: In a major success for security forces in Bastar, as many as 18 Maoists have been neutralised in a major encounter in the forest area at the Bijapur-Dantewada border, police said on March 19.
One personnel of the Bijapur District Reserve Guard was also got martyred during the gun-battle, police added.
The security forces have recovered weapons and ammunition, while the encounter and search operations continue at the Bijapur-Dantewada border under the Gangaloor police station limit.
According to the preliminary inputs received, the gunfight broke at around 7 in the morning and said to be continuing. Earlier the police informed that two Maoists were gunned down during the encounter. The toll on the Maoist’s side is expected to rise further.
#UPDATE | Chhattisgarh | 18 Naxalites killed during the encounter in the forest area at Bijapur-Dantewada border under Gangaloor PS limit: Bijapur Police https://t.co/f8koDDGz5v pic.twitter.com/N6gEYbuoCr
— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2025
Reacting to the development, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma said “18 bodies of Maoists killed in the action has been so far recovered. One of our personnel has also attained martyrdom. The government stands with the family of the martyred personnel. Another operation is being carried out at Kanker. Its a big achievement for us.”
Meanwhile in another encounter that broke out between the forces and the ultras in Kanker district, as many as 4 Maoists were neutralised. The development has been confirmed by the senior officials of the police and more details of the encounter are still awaited.
Notably, over 90 Maoists have been killed in separate encounters between the forces and the extremists in this year alone.
In a related development, two security personnel were evacuated after an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Abujhmad area of Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, police said on Thursday.
The blast caused dust and debris to enter the eyes of a jawan and an officer, both of whom were promptly evacuated for medical treatment.
According to Narayanpur Police, no serious injuries were reported in the explosion. Security forces have intensified search operations in the area to trace the insurgents responsible for the attack.
“Naxalites carried out an IED blast in Abujhmad today. Due to the blast, dust and mud entered the eyes of a jawan and an officer, after which they were evacuated from the operation area for treatment. No one suffered any serious injuries in the IED blast,” the police said. Further details on the incident are awaited.
(With inputs from ANI)
