At least 18 suspected Maoists were killed, and four security personnel were injured in two separate encounters in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur districts on Saturday, police officials confirmed.
Sukma Encounter: 17 Maoists Neutralized
In Sukma, a major operation led to the elimination of 17 Maoists, including 11 female cadres. Among the deceased was a senior Maoist leader, Kuhdami Jagdish alias Budhra, who was a member of the CPI (Maoist) special zonal committee and carried a bounty of ₹25 lakh.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sunderaj P stated, “The encounter took place around 8 am after intelligence reports suggested the presence of Maoists in the Gogunda, Nendum, and Upampalli areas of Kerlapal police station limits. A joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched an anti-Naxal operation on Friday, and gunfire broke out on Saturday morning.”
Following the operation, security forces recovered the bodies of 17 Maoists along with a cache of weapons, including an AK-47, an SLR, an INSAS rifle, .303 rifles, rocket launchers, BGL launchers, and explosives.
Four security personnel—three from the DRG and one from the CRPF—were injured in the gunfight, though their condition is reported to be stable.
Bijapur Encounter: One Maoist Killed
Later on Saturday evening, another encounter took place in the Narsapur jungles of Bijapur district, where security forces killed one Maoist. “We have recovered a body and weapons from the site, but the deceased is yet to be identified,” a senior police officer from Bijapur said.
Chhattisgarh’s Intensified Anti-Maoist Operations
The recent encounters are part of a broader crackdown on Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh. Since the beginning of 2025, over 116 Maoists have been neutralized in the state, with 22 of them killed in Sukma alone.
In 2024, security forces had eliminated 219 Maoists, a sharp rise compared to 22 in 2023 and 30 in 2022.
Government’s Zero-Tolerance Policy Against Maoists
Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently reiterated the Narendra Modi-led government’s commitment to eradicating Maoist insurgency. Speaking in Parliament last week, he emphasized the government’s “ruthless approach” towards active Maoists while encouraging surrender through incentive schemes. He affirmed that India will be “Naxal-free” by March 31, 2026.
According to the Union Home Ministry, 113 Maoists have been killed and 104 arrested nationwide this year, while 164 have surrendered.
Security Reinforcement and Development in Maoist-Affected Areas
Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, and Sukma continue to be hotbeds of Maoist activity in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division. Thousands of security personnel have been deployed in these regions to counter insurgents and reclaim Maoist-controlled territories.
As part of the government’s strategy, 17 new security camps have been established in previously Maoist-dominated areas, including the dense Abhujmad forests spanning 4,000 square kilometers across Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. Due to difficult terrain, lack of infrastructure, and Maoist fortifications, this region has remained largely unmapped since 2017.
PM Modi’s Upcoming Visit to Chhattisgarh
Amid the ongoing anti-Maoist operations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Chhattisgarh on March 30. During his visit, he will launch multiple infrastructure projects and meet families affected by Maoist violence.
With security forces intensifying their efforts and the government pushing for development in Left-wing extremism-affected areas, authorities remain determined to eliminate the Maoist insurgency from its last strongholds.
Sources By Agencies
