Raipur: In another success for security forces in insurgency-hit Bijapur district, a total of 22 Maoists have surrendered before police on March 23, police said.
“Today 22 people have willingly left the Maoist ideology and joined the mainstream. Bijapur police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are setting up new camps all over Bijapur and are also providing medical facilities alongside carrying out development works which is why the masses are supporting the administration,” said CRPF DIG Devendra Singh Negi.
While appealing to Maoists to shun the path of violence, Negi said “I would request other Naxals to give up the Maoist ideology and surrender.” He further hailed the new surrender cum victim rehabilitation policy announced by the state government and said that the “Maoist should surrender and take advantage of the policy.”
#WATCH | Bijapur, Chhattisgarh | CRPF DIG DS Negi says, "Today, 22 people have willingly left the Maoist ideology and joined the mainstream… Bijapur Police and CRPF are setting up new camps all over Bijapur and are also providing development work and medical facilities, which… pic.twitter.com/nJJfThvMR3
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2025
Those who joined the mainstream on Sunday were reported to be active in Andhra-Odisha Border Division and Telangana State Committee of the proscribed outfit. With the inclusion on Sunday, the tally of the surrendered Maoists in Bijapur district this year has reached over 100. Six of the surrendered cadres were carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 11 lakh.
Part of the violence ridden Bastar division, Bijapur district has been long consider a hotbed of Maoist-insurgency where the forces have launched a string of successful operations lately.
Earlier in a similar operation launched in Andri area of Bijapur, security personnel neutralised 22 Maoists following a fierce gun battle that lasted for around 9 hours on Thursday. A large cache of arms and ammunition including automatic rifles were also recovered from the encounter site.
#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
The operation was planned and launched following the police received credible information about the presence of top cadres of the outlawed group in the area. The campaign resulted in a major success for the security forces as 18 out of the total 22 neutralised in action were carrying a collective reward of Rs53 lakh.
Two Jawans sustained injuries in IED explosion triggered by Maoists
Meanwhile two security personnel sustained minor injuries in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts triggered by the extremists in Bijapur on Sunday.
The blast occurred near Gorala Nala area under the jurisdiction of Maded police station limits on Sunday evening when a team of security personnel was returning to its base.
The extremists tried targeting the pickup-van of the personnel through the explosion, injuring two of the Special Task Force (STF) personnel. The injured personnel were subsequently provided with medical care.
