31 Naxalites Killed in Major Bijapur Encounter; Two Security Personnel Martyred

Raipur

In a major counter-insurgency operation, security forces neutralized 31 Naxalites, including 11 women, during an eight-hour gun battle in Bijapur district. The intense encounter occurred on Sunday in the National Park area along the Maddeed-Farsegarh border, a known Naxal stronghold.  Tragically, two security personnel were martyred, and two others were injured.  A cache of automatic weapons, including AK-47s, Insas rifles, and SLRs, was seized from the Naxalites.  

The operation was launched following credible intelligence inputs regarding a large gathering of Naxalites in the area.  On February 8th, a joint team comprising personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), and Bastar Fighters initiated a search operation.  The forces strategically cordoned off the area overnight, effectively trapping the Naxalites.

The encounter erupted around 8:00 am on Sunday with a fierce exchange of fire.

Security forces swiftly neutralized 5-6 Naxalites in the initial phase of the gun battle. The fighting continued intermittently until 4:00 pm, culminating in the deaths of 31 Naxalites.  

The two security personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty are:

Naresh Dhruv, DRG Head Constable, Balodabazar  

Vasit Rawte, STF Constable, Balod

The injured personnel, Jaggu Kamlu (DRG Constable) and Gulab Mandavi (STF Constable), were airlifted to Raipur for treatment and are reported to be out of danger.  

The Maddeed-Farsegarh border region is a known core zone for Naxalite activity.  The operation, meticulously planned over two days, showcased the security forces’ effective use of precise intelligence and strategic encirclement tactics.  It is considered the largest such operation in Bijapur district to date.

Bastar Inspector General of Police, Sundarraj P, confirmed that search operations are still ongoing.  He also reported that security forces have killed 65 Maoists in the Bastar region between January 1st and February 9th, 2025, recovering a substantial quantity of automatic weapons.  This successful operation underscores the intensified counter-insurgency efforts undertaken by security forces in the past month.