Bijapur: As many as three Maoist insurgents were killed following a gun battle with security forces during a joint operation launched in the Kolnar area in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, officials said on April 12.
The operation was launched upon receiving intel about the presence of Maoists in the Indravati Nataional Park area.
A joint team of separate units of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) launched a campaign in the forest area which led to a gun battle with the extremist at around 9 in the morning.
The encounter is still reported to be underway with intermittent firing continuing. More details about the skirmish are still awaited.
Security forces have neutralised a naxal operative in a joint operation conducted at 9.30 am today in Kolnar area in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. The operation is underway in the presence of CRPF’s 202 CoBRA and 210 CoBRA units, Chhattisgarh Police’s Special Task Force and…
— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2025
It is worth mentioning here that of late the security forces has intensified counter-insurgency operations in the core areas of the banned group, neutralising over 130 Maoists in separate operations carried out in the first three months of the current year.
This comes amidst the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday reiterating the state government’s commitment to peace and development, urging the Maoists to abandon violence and join the mainstream.
“We have kept the path open for them (Maoists) from the beginning. We are repeatedly urging that you stop using the language of guns and bullets and join the mainstream of development. The government will ensure justice for you and work towards connecting you with employment,” he said.
Echoing Sai’s view, Chhattisgarh deputy CM Vijay Sharma too emphasised that the Maoists should lay down weapons and join the mainstream of development. “The Union Home Minister Amit Shah has time and again requested the Maoists to join the mainstream. We request them to surrender and pave way for the development of villages. Our new surrender and victim rehabilitation policy has a provision to take back cases against those Maoists who are surrendering and walking by side the government,” said Sharma.
केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री माननीय श्री @AmitShah जी ने नक्सलियों से मुख्यधारा में वापस लौटने के लिए करबद्ध निवेदन किया है! pic.twitter.com/O3EOCh967t
— Vijay sharma (@vijaysharmacg) April 10, 2025
Earlier, 26 Maoists including 3 carrying a collective bounty of Rs4.5 lakhs on their heads had surrendered before the police in Dantewada district on April 7.
The surrendered took place at the headquarters of District Reserve Guard (DRG) under the flagship Lon Varatu (an appeal of home coming in local dialect) scheme being undertaken jointly by the security forces and the administration.
The initiative has turned out to be a major success in the insurgency-hit district since its inception, paving way for return of over 950 former members of the proscribed Maoist outfit in the mainstream, including 224 carrying bounties on their heads.
#WATCH | Chhattisgarh | 26 Naxalites, including three with carrying rewards on their arrest, surrender before Dantewada Police
(Video source: Dantewada Police) pic.twitter.com/5Riienurui
— ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2025
Notably, over 500 Maoists have laid down weapons by joining the mainstream in the state since the beginning of this year, marking a major achievement for the security forces. Over 800 Maoist cadres had also announced their return to the mainstream in the year 2024.
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