12 Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh encounter, Naxal casualties this year cross 100

The number of Maoists killed this year in Chhattisgarh is now 103 — the highest since 2019. Until April-end, 91 Maoists had been killed by security forces.

The Friday incident took place in the Gangaloor area under the jurisdiction of the Pidiya  police station in Bijapur district, considered a Maoist stronghold and an area from where many are recruited.

This was the second major encounter in Gangaloor within weeks –13 Maoists were killed in the area on April 2.

The Friday encounter began at 6 am at different locations in and around the Pidiya forest.

Bijapur SP Jitendra Kumar Yadav said they had received information about the presence of around 150 Maoists in the Pidiya forest. He said they were from the West Bastar division, Darbha division, People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PGLA) Company 2’s commander Vella, platoons 12 and 13, and Gangaloor area committee secretary Dinesh Modiyam.

Acting on the information, a joint operation was undertaken at night by security forces comprising personnel of the DRG from Bijapur, Dantewada and Sukma, Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force, CoBRA and CRPF battalions.

Over 800 security personnel were part of the operation. “It was a joint effort of forces from three districts with effective coordination,” Dantewada SP Gaurav Rai said.

The operation was launched from multiple directions. The gunfight went on for around 12 hours at more than six locations.

The encounter took place around 40 km from Bijapur district headquarters, and 8-10 km south of the April 2 encounter site.

After the encounter, the security forces destroyed the Maoist camp and seized a BGL, a 12 bore gun, a country-made rifle, explosives, medicines, Maoist uniforms, literature and daily items.

During the search operations, they came across bodies of 12 Maoists. While returning, a DRG jawan suffered injuries in an IED blast.

“The area where the encounter took place was a stronghold of Maoists and majority recruitment of the cadres was done from here due to a security and administration vacuum. Secondly, the spot was a transit route for Maoists moving from south Bastar to Abujhmad,” an official said.

Hailing the operation, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, “I congratulate the security forces. Since we have come to power, we have strongly fought against Naxalism. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah want Naxalism to end soon, and we are getting the benefit of the double-engine sarkar.”