At least 14 Maoist insurgents were killed in two separate gunfights with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur districts on Saturday, officials confirmed, marking one of the most significant counter-insurgency operations in the Bastar region in recent times.
In Bijapur district, security forces recovered the bodies of two Maoist operatives, including a cadre identified as Hunga Madkam, from a dense forest near Gaganpalli village under the jurisdiction of the Basaguda police station. Alongside the bodies, one self-loading rifle (SLR) and a 12-bore firearm were seized. With this recovery, the total number of Maoists killed in the twin operations has risen to 14—twelve in Sukma and two in Bijapur.
The larger operation was initiated late Friday evening when teams of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) Sukma launched a coordinated offensive from the Palodi and Potakpalli areas, which fall under the Kistaram police station limits. Acting on intelligence inputs, the forces moved deep into the forested terrain where Maoist presence was suspected.
During the encounter, security personnel recovered a cache of automatic weapons from the site, including AK-47 and INSAS rifles, indicating the scale and preparedness of the insurgent group. Officials said the operation was conducted under close supervision, with Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan personally monitoring developments on the ground. Authorities added that more information would be shared once the operation concludes fully.
Earlier on Saturday, a separate encounter took place in another forested pocket of Bijapur district, where two Naxalites were killed during an exchange of fire with security forces. Police said the clash began around 5 am after a DRG team launched an anti-Naxalite mission based on specific intelligence regarding Maoist movement in the southern part of the district.
The bodies of the two slain Naxalites were later recovered from the encounter site. Officials noted that sporadic firing was still continuing in the area for some time, suggesting the possible presence of additional insurgents. Security forces have continued combing operations in the region, and further details are expected as the situation develops.