On Sunday morning, security forces carried out a significant operation in Chhattisgarh, resulting in the death of 31 Maoist insurgents. Unfortunately, two soldiers lost their lives during the encounter, and two others sustained injuries. The injured soldiers are being airlifted to Raipur for advanced medical care.

The operation took place in the challenging, mountainous terrain near the National Park in Bijapur district. Following precise intelligence on Maoist activity, forces from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), and Bastar Fighters quickly mobilized to surround the insurgents.

Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav stated, “The numbers are still climbing, so we cannot confirm the final count yet. However, it is evident that this operation has been a major success.” He also mentioned that extensive search efforts are ongoing in the National Park area, where a significant stockpile of weapons and explosives was recovered.

DIG Kamalochan Kashyap confirmed that communication with deployed soldiers is still being established, but emphasized that “this operation is massive. While we cannot provide exact figures yet, it is clear that the Maoists have incurred heavy losses. The death toll may rise as our teams continue their search.”

Bastar IG Sundarraj P highlighted that intelligence regarding Maoist movements prompted the swift deployment of forces, leading to the successful encirclement of the insurgents. Additional troops have been sent as reinforcements to maintain the momentum of the operation. A total of 31 insurgents have been confirmed dead, while the two fallen soldiers are honored for their service. The two injured soldiers are reported to be in stable condition while receiving medical attention in Raipur.

In related news, on February 2, security forces neutralized eight Maoist insurgents in the Gangalur police station area of Bijapur district, marking a continuation of successful operations. During that encounter, nearly 800 to 1000 soldiers had surrounded members of PLGA Company Number 2, including several senior leaders. Authorities recovered a significant amount of weaponry, such as INSAS rifles, .303 rifles, 12-bore shotguns, and a BGL launcher, underlining the scale of these operations.

These recent actions are part of a comprehensive effort to address the Maoist insurgency in the area. Notably, between January 20 and 21, an 80-hour encounter resulted in the deaths of 16 Maoists in Gariyaband district, with 12 of them having bounties totaling Rs 3.16 crore placed on their heads. This operation also resulted in the death of Chalpati, a Maoist Central Committee member who had a reward of Rs 90 lakh issued for his capture, in addition to Satyam Gavade, head of the Nuapada-Gariaband-Dhamtari Division Committee.

Meanwhile, authorities remain vigilant, continuing their search and combing operations in challenging terrains where insurgents have historically exploited the landscape. As security forces intensify their efforts to dismantle the Maoist network, local officials maintain cautious optimism that these initiatives will help move towards declaring the region free from Naxal influence.