Raipur, November 12: At least six Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Tuesday, police said, in what the state government described as a “decisive step” toward ending the decades-old insurgency.
The exchange of fire began around 10 a.m. in the forested National Park area when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard and the Special Task Force came under attack, said Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav.
During a search operation later in the day, police recovered the bodies of six Maoists, along with automatic weapons, Sten guns, .303 rifles, explosives, and other arms. The operation was ongoing as of 7 p.m., officials said.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) P. Sundarraj said additional security teams had been deployed in nearby areas to track down absconding Maoist cadres. “This is a significant achievement that will lead to the complete eradication of Maoist insurgency,” he said, commending the forces’ bravery.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the security operation, calling it “another decisive step” toward the state’s goal of eliminating Maoism by March 31, 2026. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, we have resolved to eliminate Naxalism from the country and the state,” Sai said in a statement.
In a separate incident in Bijapur, police said one alleged Maoist was injured and captured alive. According to official data, 259 Maoists have been killed in Chhattisgarh this year, including 230 in the Bastar region, which comprises seven districts including Bijapur.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma released videos purportedly showing the mothers of two senior Maoist commanders — Hidma and Barse Deva — urging their sons to surrender. Sharma said the appeal was part of the government’s effort to encourage insurgents to return to the mainstream.
The opposition Congress party criticised the move, calling it political propaganda.
