Chhattisgarh: A fierce gun battle has been raging since Tuesday morning along the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border, in the dense forests near Bijapur and Gadhchiroli districts.
Preliminary inputs suggest that several Maoists have been neutralised in the encounter involving joint teams of the District Reserve Guards (DRG), CoBRA commandos, and local police.
Encounter Triggered by Intelligence-Based Operation
The clash began around 6 a.m. when a joint patrol, acting on specific intelligence, encountered a group of 20–25 armed Maoists belonging to the banned CPI (Maoist)’s Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee.
The insurgents, reportedly led by senior commanders, opened fire using automatic weapons and grenades, prompting a strong retaliation from the security forces.
No Security Personnel Injured; Operation Still Underway
So far, no injuries have been reported among the security forces. Reinforcements have been dispatched from nearby bases, and the area has been cordoned off to prevent the rebels from escaping. Officials said the final casualty count will be confirmed only after the area is fully sanitised.
Part of Larger Anti-Naxal Push in Bastar Region
The encounter follows a series of intensified anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, including a recent clash in Sukma and the November 5–6 operation on the Telangana border that killed three Maoists, including a deputy commander with a Rs 5 lakh bounty.
Maoist Influence Rapidly Declining
Officials report that over 400 cadres have surrendered this year under the 2025 Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme, which offers financial aid and vocational support.
Security analysts attribute recent successes to improved inter-state coordination, drone surveillance, and intelligence sharing.
Government Calls it a Step Toward ‘Naxal-Free Bastar’
Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma praised the ongoing operations as a “decisive step toward a Naxal-free Bastar,” reaffirming the government’s twin strategy of forceful action and developmental outreach in remote tribal areas.
