Chhattisgarh: 31 Naxalites Killed In Bastar; Highest Number Of Fatalities In Single Anti-Naxal Operation

The security personnel in Chhattisgarh conducted one of the biggest operations against Maoists in the Baster region killing at least 31 Naxalites on Friday. Hailing the success of the operation, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the security personnel and BJP's 'double engine' government who have worked on their promise resolve the maoist issues from the state as soon as possible.

Chhattisgarh: How The Encounter Unfolded

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P told PTI that a joint team of security personnel as part of the 'anti-Naxal' operation, began the gunfight at around 1 pm in the forest on Friday on the Narayanpur-Dantewada inter-district border between Thulthuli and Nendur villages in Abhujmaad.

The security personnel involved in the operation belonged to the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF).

It has been reported that the Friday night incident marked the highest number of fatalities suffered by Maoists in a single operation since the creation of the state 24 years ago.

Besides the killings, a jawan of the state police's DRG sustained injuries in a blast in a shell of an Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL) ired by Maoists during the gunfight, the official said.

Along with the bodies, a cache of weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, one SLR (self-loading rifle), one INSAS rifle, one LMG rifle and one .303 rifle were also recovered from the encounter spot, police said.

Earlier, Sundarraj said that 28 Naxalites were gunned down in the encounter. However on Satarday morning, he told PTI, "Bodies of three more Naxalites were recovered this morning from the dense forest where the encounter took place on Friday."

"With this, the toll of Naxalites in the encounter rose to 31. The identity of the Naxalites is yet to be ascertained, but prima facie it appears that they belonged to PLGA (People's Liberation Guerilla Army) company No. 6, Platoon 16 of Maoists and east Bastar division of Maoists," he said.

Reportedly the encounter also led to the recovery of a cache of weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and one SLR (self-loading rifle).

In a post on X, CM Sai said, "There is news of 28 Naxalites gunned down in an encounter with security forces in the border area of Narayanpur-Dantewada districts. The great success achieved by the soldiers is commendable. I salute their courage and valour."

"Our fight to eliminate Naxalism will end only after reaching its conclusion. Our double engine government is determined for this. Eliminating Naxalism from the state is our aim," he added.

Operations To Eliminate Naxalites In 2024

With this latest encounter, 188 Maoists have been gunned down by the security forces in separate gun battles in the Bastar region comprising seven districts, including Dantewada and Narayanpur, so far this year, police said.

On April 16, as many as 29 Naxalites, including some higher-ranking cadres, were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Kanker district.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his visit to Chhattisgarh in August had said India will be free from Left Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 2026, and a strong and ruthless strategy was required to launch the final assault against the menace.