Raipur: In a significant anti-Naxal operation, joint security forces reported killing 56 hardcore Maoists in Bijapur over the past 40 days. Meanwhile, a recent encounter took place in the National Park area, specifically in the Annapur-Tekameta jungle under the Farsegard police station resulting in the death of a huge number Maoist guerrillas. The joint security forces team comprising of DRG, STF, Bastar Fighters recovered 31 bodies.

Superintendent of Police Bijapur Dr. Jitendra Kumar Yadav provided details during a press conference held on Monday at Bijapur Police headquarters, revealing that the encounter began on February 9 around 8:00 AM and lasted until 3-4 PM. The operation was initiated after intelligence indicated the presence of 40-45 armed Maoists, including several high-ranking militants.

Maoists killed in recent encounter having bounty:

1. Hunga Karma, DVCM, West Bastar Division - Reward: ₹8.00 lakhs

2. Mangu Hemla, PPCM platoon commander - Reward: ₹5.00 lakhs

3. Subhash Oyama, ACM, National Park Area Committee - Reward: ₹5.00 lakhs

4. Sannu, ACM, Gangalur Area Committee - Reward: ₹5.00 lakhs

5. Ramesh, National Park Area party member - Reward: ₹2.00 lakhs

In addition to the bodies recovered, security forces seized a substantial cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, SLR rifles, ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and Maoist literature.

Tragically, two members of the DRG Bijapur and STF units, head constable Naresh Dhruv and member R Basit Rawate, lost their lives in the encounter. A guard of honor was held in their memory with the attendance of dignitaries, including Director General of Police Chhattisgarh Arun Dev Gautam, ADG Vivekanand, IG Bastar Range Sundararaj P, MLA Bijapur Vikram Mandavi and others.

Two injured jawans were airlifted by the Indian Air Force, were admitted to a hospital in Raipur, where they are reported recovering speedily.

IG Sundarraj P, affirmed that the anti-Naxal campaign, which has seen progress in 2024, will continue. In 2025 alone, security forces in the Bastar division recovered the bodies of 56 hardcore Maoists in just 40 days.

Weapons recovered

1 AK-47 rifle, 3 magazines, 56 rounds of cartridges, 1 SLR rifle, 2 magazines, 6 rounds of cartridges, 1 INSAS rifle, 1 magazine, 1 .303 rifle, 1 magazine, 2 rounds of cartridges, 1 .315 bore rifle, 30 rounds of cartridges, 8 12 bore guns, 1 large BGL rocket launcher with stand, 4 BGL cells, 6 BGL launchers, 14 cells, 4 muzzle-loading rifles, 9 IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), a laser printer, a large quantity of explosive materials, Maoist uniforms, Maoist literature, medicines, and daily-use items were recovered.