30 Maoists Killed, Cop Dies In Two Encounters In Chhattisgarh

At least 30 Maoists were killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur and Kanker districts and a police jawan was also killed in action during an exchange of fire.

The gunfight in Bijapur began around 7 am along the district's border with Dantewada when a joint team of security personnel was conducting an anti-Naxalite operation in Gangaloor police station area.

At least 26 Maoists were killed in Bijapur and firearms and explosives were recovered. Amid the exchange of fire between the Maoists and the State Task Force and District Reserve Guard, one police jawan was killed.

In Kanker, a joint team of the Border Security Force and the District Reserve Guard gunned down four Maoists near Koroskodo village.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah called the encounters a big success and said the country is going to be Maoist-free before March 31 next year. 

Last month, security forces gunned down 31 Maoists in an encounter in Bijapur district. The encounter began deep inside the forest in the Indravati National Park area when a security team was conducting an anti-Maoist operation. Two security personnel were also killed in the gunfight.

"The Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Maoists and is adopting a zero-tolerance policy against those Maoists who are not surrendering despite all the facilities, ranging from surrender to inclusion. The country is going to be Maoist-free before March 31 next year," Mr Shah posted in Hindi on X. 

A "major success" for the security forces came in January when an anti-Maoist operation led to the death of senior Maoist leader Jayaram Reddy, also known as Chalapati, who had a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head.

More than 200 Maoists were killed by security forces in Chhattisgarh in 2024. Among 219 Maoists killed last year, 217 were from the Bastar region, which comprises Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Sukma districts.

Over 800 Maoists were also arrested, while about 802 laid down their arms.