In a major setback to left-wing extremism, security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district killed at least six Maoists during an intense encounter, though the operation also claimed the lives of two District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel. The gunfight broke out in the dense forests near Gangloor along the Bijapur–Dantewada border during a joint anti-Naxal operation involving the DRG, Special Task Force (STF) and CRPF’s elite COBRA unit. According to Dantewada DIG Kamlochan Kashyap, the encounter has been ongoing for more than two hours as forces continue to tighten their cordon. The bodies of six Maoists have been recovered so far.
This latest action pushes the total number of Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh this year to 268—of which 239 were eliminated in the Bastar division alone, the core zone of Naxal activity. The operation also follows a major surrender event on November 30 in Dantewada, where 37 Maoists, including 27 with combined bounties worth ₹65 lakh, laid down their arms under the state’s “Puna Margem” (New Dawn) rehabilitation initiative. The surrender included 12 women, each carrying an 8 lakh bounty. The surge in encounters and surrenders reflects a significant weakening of Maoist influence in the region as coordinated operations continue to intensify.
