by Our Correspondent in New Delhi
At least 30 Naxalites and a police jawan were killed in two separate encounters in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur and Kanker districts on Thursday, as security forces intensified their operations against left-wing extremism. The encounters broke out in the early hours of the day, marking another major success in the ongoing crackdown against Naxalite groups.
Government sources confirmed that 26 Naxalites were killed in the first encounter, which took place in a forested region along the Bijapur-Dantewada border of the Bastar division. Another operation in Koroskodo village, under the Chhotebethiya Police Station area in Kanker, resulted in the deaths of four more insurgents. The fallen jawan, a member of the Chhattisgarh Police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG), was part of a joint security operation involving the DRG and Border Security Force (BSF) in the Gangaloor Police Station area of Bijapur, officials reported.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, stated that the bodies of 26 Naxalites, along with a substantial cache of arms and explosives, were recovered from the encounter sites. Operations remain ongoing, as security forces continue to monitor and clear the area of remaining threats. These encounters come just over a month after a similar operation in Bijapur’s Indravati National Park resulted in the deaths of 31 Naxalites and two security personnel. The intensified operations highlight the government’s commitment to dismantling Naxal strongholds in the region.
Officials noted that these clashes align with the Naxalites’ annual Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC), which typically runs from March to June. The insurgents ramp up their attacks before monsoon season, targeting security forces and infrastructure projects, including road construction efforts. Previous TCOC operations have seen significant casualties among security forces. On April 3, 2021, 22 soldiers were killed in Tekalguda on the Sukma-Bijapur border. On March 21, 2020, 17 soldiers were killed in Minapa, Sukma. In April 2017, 25 soldiers were killed in Burkapal, Sukma. However, in recent years, security forces have maintained a stronghold, preventing major Naxal offenses. In 2024 alone, 219 Naxalites were killed, signaling a shift in operational success against the insurgents.
Following the latest encounters, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the government’s commitment to a “Naxal-Free India” before March 31, 2026. “Today, our soldiers have achieved another significant success in the direction of ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat Abhiyan,’” Shah stated on social media platform X. “The Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Naxalites and adopting a zero-tolerance policy against those who refuse to surrender.”
The security forces have significantly ramped up their operations in Chhattisgarh. Per official figures, 81 Naxalites have been killed in the state until February 2025. 65 Naxalites were neutralized in the Bastar division alone. 219 Naxalites were eliminated in 2024. Recent major encounters include April 15, 2024, where 29 Naxalites were killed in Chhote Bethia, Kanker, and October 4, 2024, where 38 Naxalites were killed in Narayanpur and Thulthuli, Dantewada. Security forces have reinforced their presence in key conflict zones, aiming to dismantle Naxalite operations and ensure lasting peace in the region.
