Bastar: In yet another success for the security forces, two seasoned Maoists were gunned down in an encounter near the Kondagaon-Narayanpur border in Chhattisgarh, said police.
According to police, an AK-47 rifle and bodies of two cadres of the banned Maoist group were recovered from the spot. while an extensive search operation in the vicinity of the site is still underway.
“Two hardcore Naxals were killed in an encounter at the Kondagaon-Narayanpur border. AK-47 and two bodies were recovered. Search operations underway,” said Bastar Inspector General (IG) of Police, Sundarraj P.
Chhattisgarh | Two hardcore naxals killed in an encounter at Kondagaon-Narayanpur border. AK-47 and two bodies recovered. Search operations underway: IG Bastar P Sundarraj
— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025
The gun battle occurred on Tuesday evening when a joint team of Bastar Fighters and District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on an operation, leading to neutralisation of a dreaded Maoist commander Halder, a member of the East Bastar Division of the outlawed group and Rame who was an area committee member. Both of them were carrying a collective bounty of Rs 13 lakh.
The development has arrived on the heels of security forces neutralising three Maoists in an exchange of fire that occurred during a joint operation launched in Kolnar area in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on April 12.
The operation was launched by a joint team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Task Force (STF) and DRG upon receiving intel about the presence of Maoists in the Indravati Nataional Park area.
With the encounter on Wednesday, the figures of Maoists neutralised in separate encounters in the state has surpassed the tally of 135, signifying security forces aggressive campaign against the reds in the hinterlands. This comes amidst large number of Maoists laying down arms and joining the mainstream lately.
“Naxalism breathing his last,” says CM Sai
Earlier, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai highlighted that the government’s efforts to work on rehabilitation policies has been yielding positive results as a significant number of Maoists have surrendered and joined mainstream. He said that Naxalism was “breathing its last” in the state.
“About 1,314 Naxalites have surrendered, and the government is doing justice to them. We have separately arranged 15,000 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for them. We keep them in the district headquarters, and we are also working on their skill development so that they can get some employment. We also give them jobs in third and fourth classes of government organisations as per their qualification,” said CM Sai at an event.
“As soon as our government came, we told the Naxalites that they should leave bullets and violence and join the mainstream of development. We sent our state’s Home Minister, Vijay Sharma, to many other states, including Assam, to see rehabilitation policies there,” he added.
CM Sai asserted that Naxalism was nearing its end in Chhattisgarh, with only a handful of cadre left. He added that nearly 359 Naxalites with huge bounties on them have been killed in the last 1.5 years.
#WATCH | Raipur: At 'Vichaar for Viksit Chhattisgarh' conclave, CM Vishnu Deo Sai says "Naxalism is now breathing its last in Chhattisgarh, very few of them are left now. In 1.5 years, about 359 Naxalites highly rewarded, hardcore Naxalites have been killed. I am fully confident… pic.twitter.com/PNDJ8jonCa
— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2025
Earlier the CM on a separate occasion had reiterated 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.
(With inputs from agencies)
