More Maoists killed so far this year in Chhattisgarh than whole of 2022

All of the 29 Maoists killed this year were killed in the Bastar region. Out of the 29, 13 were killed in Bijapur, five each in Dantewada and Kanker, four in Sukma, and two in Narayanpur.

This year has also seen the deaths of 12 civilians and six security personnel in Naxal-related incidents.

However, there have also been allegations of fake encounters from families of those killed. Local residents and relatives of three people killed in what security forces said was an anti-Maoist encounter in Kanker on February 25 marched to the police station in Koylibeda village, alleging that the encounter was fake and seeking action against the personnel involved. They also said that the three deceased were not Maoists. Subsequently, a magisterial inquiry was ordered into the incident.

Anti-Naxal operations in the region have been stepped up since December last year, after the Assembly elections in the state. In January this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting with security forces and all stakeholders, asking them to ensure that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) ends in Chhattisgarh in the next three years.

Subsequently, the deployment of security forces has been increased in the Maoist-affected Bastar region, which comprises seven districts – Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma.

More than 14 police camps have been made by police in Maoist strongholds including Puarti which is home village of dreaded Madvi Hidma who was heading People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). Hidma’s successor Barse Deva is also from Puarti.