In a major success in dismantling Naxalism in Chhattisgarh, the security forces on Sunday neutralised 31 Naxalites in the forest area of the state's Bijapur. Providing details about the encounter, IG Bastar P Sundarraj said that the Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in the forests under the National Park area of District Bijapur. The encounter started on Sunday morning in the forest of the Indravati National Park in the Bijapur district.
Two jawans also fell in line of duty during the encounter, while two others were injured. The gunfight took place when a joint team of personnel from different security forces was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, a senior police official said.
Earlier, 12 Naxalites were reported to be killed but the search operation was underway. During the search operation, more bodies were recovered in the jungle area raising the count to 31. Reacting to the earlier reports, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai took to X and said, "So far, 12 Naxalites have been reported killed in an encounter between security forces and Naxalites in the National Park area of Bijapur district. Sad news has also been received of 2 soldiers martyred and 2 injured in the encounter."
Reiterating the commitment to end the Naxal menace, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai said, "The sacrifice of the soldiers will not go in vain. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, our state will be free from Naxalism by March 2026. In this direction, the security forces are continuously achieving success and moving rapidly towards the goal. The end of Naxalism, which is like a cancer in the country and the state, is certain."
"I pray to God for peace to the souls of the martyred soldiers and to provide strength to their bereaved families and for the speedy recovery of the injured soldiers," he added.
16 killed in encounter
Earlier on January 21, at least 16 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district. An official said that a fresh exchange of fire occurred overnight in a forest area under the Manipur police station, located along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. During the encounter, 12 more Naxalites were killed.
A joint team of security personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA from Chhattisgarh and Special Operation Group (SOG) from Odisha were involved in the operation.
