By The Sampadak Express
At least 22 Naxalites were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh on Thursday, according to police sources. The operations took place in the Bijapur and Kanker districts, where security personnel successfully neutralized the militants.
In the Bijapur district, a joint team conducted an anti-Naxal operation in the Gangalur police station area early Thursday morning. A gunfight broke out between the Naxalites and security forces at around 7:00 am. During the operation, a District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan was martyred. The bodies of 18 Naxalites were recovered from the scene, along with a large cache of weapons and ammunition. A search operation is ongoing in the area.
Meanwhile, in Kanker district, four Naxalites were killed during an encounter with security forces near the Koroskodo village in the Chhotebethiya police station area.
Amit Shah Praises Security Forces, Reaffirms ‘Zero-Tolerance’ PolicyUnion Home Minister Amit Shah praised the efforts of the security forces, calling the operations a significant step towards a “Naxal-Mukt” (Naxal-free) India. “Twenty-two Naxalites were killed in two separate operations by our security forces in Bijapur and Kanker of Chhattisgarh,” Shah tweeted on X.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy, stating, “The Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Naxalites, particularly those who refuse to surrender despite all the facilities available for reintegration.” Shah also predicted that India would be Naxal-free by March 31 next year.
Earlier, a team of security forces narrowly escaped an attack in Narayanpur district, where Naxalites detonated an improvised explosive device (IED). The blast, which occurred around 3:00 am in the Abujhmaad area, did not cause serious injuries, though two policemen were evacuated for treatment.
In another significant development, three Naxalites surrendered to security forces in Sukma district earlier this week. The trio, including Madkam Erra Babu (26), Sodi Deva (35), and Madkam Hadma (41), had a combined reward of Rs 4 lakh. They cited the “inhuman and hollow” ideology of the Maoist movement as their reason for surrendering.
