In yet another success for security forces in their ongoing campaign against red terror, as many as four Maoists were killed in an encounter between a joint team of security personnel and cadres of the outlawed CPI-Maoist on May 23.
According to police, an operation involving personnel from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and C-60 commandos was launched following credible intelligence of presence of Maoists near Kawande FOB (forward operating base) along the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border.
A gun fight broke out between the security forces and the extremists after the latter opened up indiscriminatory fire on the joint team on Friday morning to which the joint team retaliated heavily, leading to neutralisation of four Maoists. The gun battle lasted for around two hours.
मोठी कारवाई!
CRPF व C-60 कमांडोच्या संयुक्त ऑपरेशनमध्ये 4 कट्टर माओवादी ठार! चकमकीत रायफल्स, भरमार, वॉकीटॉकी व नक्षल साहित्य जप्त.#GadchiroliPolice#AntiNaxalOperation #C60Commandos #MaoistEncounter #CRPF #NaxalCleanup #गडचिरोली #NaxalFreeIndia pic.twitter.com/SjMk5ajGmp— गडचिरोली पोलीस – GADCHIROLI POLICE (@SP_GADCHIROLI) May 23, 2025
After the firing stopped, the joint team also recovered weapons (rifles), ammunition and other daily use materials from the site.
33 Maoists surrender before authorities in Bijapur
In a related development, a total of 33 Maoists surrender before the authorities in Dantewada and Bijapur district of insurgency-hit Bastar divison on May 23.
According to details a total of 24 Maoists carrying a cumulative reward of over Rs 87 lakh have surrender before the officials in Bijapur district.
One of the surrendered Maoist Hanumant Rao was active as deputy commander of the PLGA battalion no 02. He joined the Maoists group in the year 1997 and carrying a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head.
The other notable names among those who laid down weapons on Friday include Hanumanta’ wife Mangali Korsa, Lakshmi, Sampat Punem, Raju Farsa, Dasru Kunjam, Arjun and Muka Madavi. They were all carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakh each.
Meanwhile a total of 9 Maoists also surrender before the officials in Dantewada district.
CM hails new surrender policy and Niyad Nelanar scheme
Expressing his delight over the development, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that the surrender of Maoists is a testimony of positive outcome of our ‘new surrender and rehabilitation policy’ and ‘Niyad Nelanar’ scheme.
Taking to X, CM Sai said “Maoists are leaving the path of extremism and joining the mainstream of society. We are fully committed to the rehabilitation and revival of these surrendered Maoists.”
He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the country will completely eradicate the red terror by March 2026.
बीजापुर जिले में सुरक्षाबलों के समक्ष 87 लाख 50 हजार रुपए के इनामी 24 हार्डकोर नक्सलियों ने आत्मसमर्पण किया है।
इन आत्मसमर्पित नक्सलियों में से बीस पर ₹50 हजार से लेकर ₹10 लाख तक के इनाम घोषित थे।
यह हमारी सरकार की नवीन आत्मसमर्पण एवं पुनर्वास नीति – 2025 एवं नियद नेल्ला…
— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) May 23, 2025
Significantly, security forces in a major operation neutralised 27 hardcore Maoists including the general secretary of CPI (Maoists) Basavaraju in Abujhmad of Narayanpur district on May 21.
The development marks a major blow to the already weakened outlawed group, enabling a crucial edge to the security forces.
Earlier, thousands of personnel from seperate units of security forces launched a major anti-Maoist operation at Karregutta hills in Bijapur district along Telangana border.
The operation resulted in elimination of 31 hardcore Maoists along eradication of Maoists weapon manufacturing units being operated from the Karregutta hills.
