Raipur
Security forces reportedly neutralised 14 Maoists in separate encounters across Chhattisgarh and Odisha over the last 24 hours. In Chhattisgarh, forces killed 12 insurgents in Sukma’s Kistaram area and two in Bijapur district. Meanwhile, a major operation in Odisha’s Kandhamal led to the neutralisation of six Maoists, including a senior leader carrying a Rs 1.1 crore bounty.
In Bijapur, security forces launched an operation following intelligence inputs regarding Maoist presence. A team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) came under fire early Saturday morning. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav confirmed that the bodies of two Maoists and several weapons were recovered from the spot.
The encounter in Sukma took place in the forested terrain of Kistaram, where 12 Maoists were killed. Search operations continue in the region as intermittent firing was reported from both sides. Officials have withheld specific details regarding the number of personnel involved due to security reasons.
The Odisha operation in Kandhamal marks a significant blow to the insurgent hierarchy. Among the six killed is Ganesh Uike (69), a Central Committee Member (CCM) of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and the outfit’s Odisha in-charge. Uike, who had been underground for four decades, was implicated in several high-profile attacks, including the 2013 Jhiram Ghati ambush.
The joint team, comprising the Special Operations Group (SOG), CRPF, and BSF, recovered two INSAS rifles and a .303 rifle from the site. The operation was concentrated in the Chakapad area of Kandhamal and the Rambha forest range in Ganjam district.
Maoist influence shrinking in Bastar
Intelligence reports suggest that only 200 to 300 armed cadres remain in the Bastar region. The Maharashtra–Madhya Pradesh–Chhattisgarh (MMC) zone has been effectively dismantled, with Naxal presence largely cleared from North Bastar and the Abujhmarh division.
The South Bastar division remains the final challenge for security forces. High-ranking leaders, including Papparao, are believed to be hiding in small groups within these forests. Officials state that the neutralisation or surrender of five to six top leaders in the coming months would effectively collapse the frontline Maoist leadership in Bastar. The Centre has set a deadline of 31 March 2026 to make the country Maoist-free.
