Dantewada (Chhattisgarh), March 25: Three Naxals killed in an encounter with security forces in Dantewada district have been identified, with their bodies recovered, a senior police officer confirmed. Bastar IG Sundarraj P stated that an INSAS rifle and a 12-bore pistol were found at the site. One of the slain Naxals, identified as Sudhir, had a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head. The other two are still being identified. A search operation is ongoing.
Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma mentioned that more bodies could be discovered. He also confirmed the recovery of arms and reiterated the government's commitment to promoting Naxal-free Panchayats with immediate funding for development projects.
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai praised the security forces for their bravery, emphasizing the state's ongoing fight against Naxalism. He expressed confidence in the success of the government's plan to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that over 2,600 Naxals had been arrested, surrendered, or killed in the past year due to the BJP-led government's approach in Chhattisgarh. Shah affirmed that Naxalism would be eradicated from India by 2026.
In recent operations, security forces have recovered 30 Naxal bodies and a significant amount of weapons.
