This takes the total number of Maoists killed in different security operations since the beginning of this year to 14. (File Photo)
Twelve Maoists have been gunned down in a major encounter with security forces in the forests of Bijapur in Chhattisgarh’s Maoist-hit Bastar Thursday morning, security sources said.
According to security sources, a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) from three districts of Sukma, Bijapur and Dantewada and five units of elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and a battalion of the CRPF were acting on intelligence inputs on the presence of Maoists in jungles of south Bastar. The encounter began at 9 am, and intermittent continued till Thursday night, sources, adding that it was a massive operation that involved “over 1,000 security personnel”.
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This takes the total number of Maoists killed in different security operations since the beginning of this year to 14. On January 6, eight jawans and a civilian were killed when a command IED weighing over 40 kgs ripped through their SUV on Kutru-Bedre road in Bijapur.
In a separate incident from the district Thursday, two CRPF jawans suffered injuries after one of them stepped on a pressure IED while they were on an “area domination exercise” in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh’s most Maoist-affected district.
Bijapur Additional Superintendent of Police Chandrakant Governa said that the injured jawans have been evacuated and that “they are in a stable condition and out of danger.”
Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India.
Expertise and Experience
Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of:
Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages.
Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states.
Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering:
Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements.
Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law.
Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in:
Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel.
Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India.
Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More
