Bastar: Security forces recovered the bodies of 30 Maoists following two separate encounters in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur and Kanker districts on March 20, Bastar Inspector General of Police P Sundarraj said. The forces have also recovered a large cache of weapons.
“Operations were conducted today in various areas of the Bastar district. In the Bijapur-Dantewada border region, we have recovered the bodies of 26 Naxalites,” said the IG.
“A large number of AK-47 rifles, as well as automatic and semi-automatic weapons, have also been seized. One personnel of the Bijapur District Reserve Guard (DRG) lost his life during the encounter,” he added.
Sharing details of the encounter near the Kanker-Narayanpur border, the IG said that four Naxalites were killed in the gunfight, and their bodies were recovered during a search operation. “The search operation is still underway in the area,” he added.
#WATCH | Chhattisgarh: Visuals from near ground zero in Bijapur District where jawans are returning from the encounter site. Bodies of Naxalites and other materials were also recovered.
So far, the bodies of 26 Naxalites have been recovered during the encounter in… pic.twitter.com/5mSf3JHWsu
— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2025
Reacting to the encounters in Bijapur and Kanker, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma says, “The encounter was going on in the Gangaloor area of Bijapur since morning. 26 Naxalites have been killed in the encounter. Four more Naxalites have been killed in the encounter in the Kanker-Narayanpur border area. A total of 30 Naxalites have been killed in the encounter… This is a big success for the soldiers…”
Earlier in the day, Sharma condoled the death of the District Reserve Guard and said that the government stands with the family of the fallen soldier. He further praised the security forces, saying, “I congratulate the jawans of Bastar and the entire team in Bijapur. This success is due to the bravery and strength of our soldiers. In addition to the Bijapur operation, search efforts are also ongoing in Kanker.”
#WATCH | Raipur: On the encounter in Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma says, "The encounter was going on in the Gangaloor area of Bijapur since morning. 26 Naxalites have been killed in the encounter. Four more Naxalites have been killed in the encounter in the… pic.twitter.com/oLoRrAV7WB
— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2025
The encounter in Bijapur district broke out on Thursday morning during a search operation carried out by a joint team, resulting in neutralisation of 26 members of the outlawed group.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah while terming it a big success, reiterated that the Maoist insurgency will end before March 2026.
Read more at: “Zero-tolerance policy against Naxals”: Amit Shah praises security forces for neutralising 22 Maoists….
31 Maoists were killed in a major operation launched by a joint team of security personnel in Indravati Park Area in Bijapur in February this year. The offensive was said to be first ever major operation launched in the park area, identified as a bastion of the Maoists.
With the encounters on Thursday, the total tally of Maoist cadres neutralised in separate encounter in the state since January this year has surpassed the figure of hundred.
(With inputs from agencies)
