Despite serious setbacks in recent times, left-wing Insurgency still thrives in central India. (Artist’s impression/India Sentinels)
Raipur: In a major counterinsurgency operation, security forces neutralized 17 Naxalites during an intense encounter in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh Bijapur district, on Thursday. The latest success against the Maoist insurgents marks a crucial development in the ongoing battle against left-wing extremism in central India.
The high-stakes operation commenced around 9am on Thursday when a joint team of security personnel launched a comprehensive anti-Naxalite mission in the region, which is in the south of Bijapur district. The operation involved a formidable coalition of forces, including the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from three districts, five battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force’s elite CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit, and the 229th battalion of the force.
The encounter unfolded in the challenging terrain of Pujari Kanker-Murudbaka forest, an area known to be a stronghold of Maoist operations. The intermittent exchange of fire continued throughout the day, with security forces strategically ambushing Maoist cadres from multiple directions.
Security forces with the bodies of the insurgents recovered from the encounter site. (Photo via X)
Vivekananda Sinha, additional director general of anti-Naxalite operations, confirmed that more than 10 insurgents’ bodies had been recovered by the evening, with the possibility of the casualty count increasing.
Latest reports say bodies of 17 Naxalites, suspected from the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), have been recovered so far, and more are expected as the security forces continue their mopping operations. Weapons were also seized during the operation, which remained ongoing according to last received reports.
This encounter is part of a broader offensive against Naxal insurgency in the region. Earlier this month, on January 12, five Naxalites, including two women, were killed in a similar operation in the Madded region of Bijapur. The current operation brings the total number of Naxalites neutralized in Chhattisgarh this month to 26.
No casualties were reported among the security forces during this encounter. The operation's location, approximately 150 kilometres from the district headquarters, is considered a critical area, particularly near Battalion No. 1, reportedly the Maoists’ strongest military formation in the Bastar region.
However, the incident also highlights the challenges faced by security forces in their ongoing battle against the Naxalites. The dense forests and rugged terrain provide ample cover to the insurgents, making counterinsurgency operations extremely challenging.
The operation follows recent incidents, including an IED blast on January 6 that claimed the lives of eight security personnel and a civilian driver.
The Naxalite movement, despite facing setbacks in recent years, continues to pose a significant threat to the security and development of several regions in central and eastern India. The government has intensified its counterinsurgency operations in recent years, employing a multi-pronged approach that includes both military and developmental measures.
The Union home minister, Amit Shah, has previously reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating Naxalism by March 2026, emphasizing that the sacrifices of security forces would not be in vain.
