Eight Maoists killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur

At least eight Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Saturday, a senior police official said.

Two personnel of the District Reserve Guard, a unit of the state police, were also injured in the gunfight, he said.

An INSAS rifle and a barrel grenade launcher were among the weapons recovered from the site afterwards, the official said.

The gunfight broke out around 8.30 am in the forest in Gangaloor police station area when DRG and Special Task Force of the state police along with Central Reserve Police Force and its elite unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action(CoBRa) were out on an anti-Maoist operation, inspector general of police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said.

The operation was launched on Friday after receiving information about the presence of cadres of the 'West Bastar division' of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoists in the area, he said.

"The bodies of eight Maoists, all men, have been recovered from the spot. Many more ultras have either been killed or injured. The search operation at the site is still underway. We have recovered an INSAS rifle, a .12 bore rifle, a barrel grenade launcher and five other weapons," Sundarraj said.

The identity of the slain Maoists was yet to be ascertained, but they appeared to belong to the Gangaloor area committee, People's Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) company no 2 and a militia company under the West Bastar division of the Maoists, he said.

During the gunfight two DRG men sustained minor injuries and were being treated, the IG said.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai hailed the security forces for the success.

"The state government has been working with full commitment to eliminate Maoist menace. Today's encounter is a big success for the security forces. I salute their courage," Sai said in a statement.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have resolved to end Maoist menace in the country by March 31, 2026. We are succeeding in fulfilling this vow. Maoist menacve is near its end. Our goal is to make Bastar completely Maoist-free and accelerate the development of the tribal community," he said.

The CM appealed to the Maoists to give up arms, surrender, and take advantage of the rehabilitation schemes of the government.

With this encounter, 49 Naxalites have been killed in encounters in the state so far this year. Of them, 33 were killed in Bastar division comprising seven districts, including Bijapur.

On January 20-21, 16 Maoists were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Gariaband district which falls in Raipur division.

In 2024, as many as 219 Maoists were killed in the state, as per the police figures.