Eight Maoists were killed in a major gun battle between security forces and Maoists in Gangalur, located in Chhattisgarh’s Maoist-hit Bijapur district, on Saturday morning, police reported.
This comes less than two weeks after 20 Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces during a joint operation conducted by the Odisha and Chhattisgarh police on January 21. The operation was preceded by the killing of two women Naxalites by security forces in Chhattisgarh just a day earlier.
Joint Operation Against Maoists
The encounter resulted from a joint operation by the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), Battalion 222 of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) Battalion 202. The clash began at approximately 8:30 AM and, according to police sources, the operation remains ongoing.
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Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, confirmed the development, marking another significant blow to Maoist insurgents in the region.
Rising Maoist Casualties Amid Counterinsurgency Push
With this latest encounter, the total number of Maoists killed in various operations across Chhattisgarh since January 1 has risen to 48.
The counterinsurgency operations come amid a broader push by the central government to eliminate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) from the country. Last August, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that “ruthless action” would be taken to eradicate LWE from India by March 2026.
Ongoing Operations and Future Outlook
The latest encounter signals the continued aggressive approach by security forces in Maoist-affected areas. The operation in Gangalur is still active, and further updates are expected as forces continue their crackdown on extremist elements.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, ensuring that strategic measures are in place to maintain security and stability in the region.
