Bhubaneswar: Twelve Maoists were killed in an intense encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Thursday.
The operation, which took place in the dense forests of southern Bijapur, began around 9 a.m. and involved intermittent exchanges of fire that continued late into the evening.
According to reports, the encounter occurred during an anti-Maoist operation carried out by a joint team of security personnel. The operation involved the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from three districts, five battalions of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), and the 229th battalion of the CRPF.
Preliminary reports confirm the elimination of 12 Maoists in the gunfight, though additional details are awaited as search operations are ongoing in the area. No casualties or injuries have been reported among security personnel.
This marks a significant success in the state’s ongoing anti-Maoist operations. A total of 26 Maoists have been killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh this month alone. Earlier, on January 12, five Maoists, including two women, were neutralized in an encounter in the Madded police station area of Bijapur district.
Last year, security forces achieved a major milestone by neutralizing 219 Maoists in separate operations across the state. These operations highlight the sustained efforts of law enforcement agencies to counter Maoist activities and restore peace in the affected regions.