Raipur, April 12: In a major blow to Maoist insurgents, security forces gunned down three Maoists during a fierce encounter in the dense Indravati forest region, straddling the Bijapur and Dantewada districts of Chhattisgarh.
According to police officials, the bodies of the three Maoists—dressed in camouflage uniforms—were recovered during a joint anti-Maoist operation launched early Saturday morning. A large cache of ammunition and explosives was also seized from the encounter site. Identification of the deceased is currently underway.
Officials confirmed that the operation is ongoing, as security forces continue their efforts in the region. The offensive is part of a larger national campaign to make India Maoist-free by March 2026.
Despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent appeal in Bastar urging Maoists to surrender and return to the mainstream, the insurgents remain active. Earlier this month, Maoist groups expressed interest in conditional surrender, but the Chhattisgarh government reiterated that talks would only proceed once arms are laid down.
Home Minister Shah had emphasized that Maoists should abandon violence and participate in the region’s development efforts, warning that the government remains committed to eradicating the Maoist menace.
The encounter follows a string of successful operations by security forces this year. On March 20, two major offensives in the Bastar region resulted in the killing of around 30 Maoists. So far in 2025, security forces have neutralized 142 Maoists across 11 coordinated operations.
Notably, 31 Maoists were killed on February 9, and another 16 on March 25, in major actions across Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Narayanpur districts.
