In a major crackdown on Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh, security forces killed 28 Naxalites during an intense encounter in the Bastar region on Friday, as stated by a senior police officer. The gunfight has been considered one of the biggest ant-Maoist operations in the state of 2024. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai hailed the security personnel for their bravery. He also highlighted the BJP-led ‘double engine’ government’s commitment to both the state and the center regarding it. The CM stressed that they were determined to eliminate Naxalism from the region and declared the operation as a major success.
Joint Security Forces headed the attack
The battle began at around 1 pm between Thulthuli and Nendur villages, situated on the Narayanpur -Dantewada inter-district border. The joint security forces involved personnel from the Special Task Force (STF), and the District Reserve Guard (DRG), as mentioned by Inspector General of Police Sundarraj P.
The forces also retrieved weapons like AK-47 and SLR (self-loading rifles) along with 28 bodies from the encounter place. Union Minister Amit Shah on his visit to the state in August has pledged to get India rid of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 2026. The Home Minister stressed that comprehensive and aggressive planning is needed for the Maoist threat. As per the latest report, a total of 185 Maoists have been killed this year.
(With inputs from PTI)