In a deadly encounter on Saturday morning in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, eight Maoists were killed during a gunfight with security forces. The clash erupted around 8:30 AM in the forested Gangaloor police station area as a joint team of security personnel carried out an anti-Maoist operation.
The operation, which began on Friday, was launched after intelligence revealed the presence of Maoist cadres from the ‘West Bastar division’ in the area. A combined force of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), the Special Task Force (STF) of the state police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the elite CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) participated in the mission.
The violence comes in the wake of heightened tensions in the region. Earlier in January, Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the central government’s commitment to ending Naxalism by 2026. This vow was underscored by a tragic attack on January 6, when Maoists used an IED to target a vehicle carrying eight DRG jawans and a driver, killing them in Bijapur. This incident marked a significant escalation, with the blast occurring on the Bedre-Kutru Road in Bijapur district.
The recent attack on the DRG jawans is being described as one of the most devastating Maoist strikes in two years. On April 26, 2023, ten police officers and a civilian driver were killed in a similar attack when Maoists targeted a convoy in neighbouring Dantewada district.
The Home Minister expressed his sorrow over the loss of the DRG soldiers in the IED attack, noting on social media that while words could not adequately convey the grief, the sacrifice of the soldiers would not be forgotten.
These incidents highlight the persistent threat posed by Maoist insurgents in central India, despite continued government efforts to quell the violence. The battle against Naxalism, while making progress in some areas, continues to exact a heavy toll on both security personnel and local communities caught in the crossfire. The central government’s strategy to eradicate the Maoist insurgency remains a long and challenging road, with frequent casualties underscoring the perilous nature of these operations.
