In a significant operation, at least 30 suspected Maoists were killed during an encounter with security personnel in the Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday, according to police officials. The encounter began around 1 PM in the Abhujmad forest, located on the Narayanpur-Dantewada inter-district border, as a joint team of security forces was conducting an anti-Naxal operation.
This encounter marks the largest success for security forces since an April 16 operation in Kanker district, which resulted in the deaths of 29 Maoists.
Abhujmad, an extensive 6,000 sq km forest straddling Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, is often referred to as the ‘unknown hill’ due to its uncharted territory since the British era. This region is a hub of Maoist activities, with reports indicating that several senior leaders of the CPI (Maoist) are still operating from there.
According to an officer, the encounter is ongoing, with the death toll potentially rising as night falls. The Maoists are reportedly cornered in the jungles near the villages of Thulthuli and Gevdi, situated south of Abhujmad.
Security teams remain active in the forest, conducting continuous monitoring of the situation. Police reports indicate that a cache of weapons—including an AK-47 rifle and a self-loading rifle (SLR)—was recovered from the encounter site. The exact number of weapons and ammunition is still being verified, and identification of the deceased Maoists will take place on Saturday.
Authorities had received intelligence about a meeting of senior cadres from the East Bastar Division of the CPI (Maoist) in the Thulthuli jungle this week, prompting the deployment of district reserve guards from Dantewada and Narayanpur districts for the anti-Naxal operation.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating Naxalism, stating, “Our fight to eradicate Naxalism will continue until we achieve complete success. The eradication of Naxalism from the state is our ultimate goal.”
Sources revealed that over 1,000 security personnel were engaged in this operation. With this latest encounter, the total number of Maoists killed in various operations in the Bastar region in 2024 has reached 194.
