Largest Anti-Naxal Operation: 36 Insurgents Killed, 500 Troops Deployed; AK-47s and Automatic Weapons Seized
Raipur
Security forces have achieved a major victory in a massive anti-Naxal operation near the Dantewada-Narayanpur border. Acting on intelligence reports, a joint team of 500 personnel from the DRG, Bastar Fighters, and STF moved into the dense Thulthuli area on Thursday evening. By Friday afternoon, a fierce gunfight erupted, leading to the death of over 36 Naxalites.
By late Friday night, 28 bodies were recovered, but darkness forced a temporary halt to the search operations. Along with the bodies, the forces seized AK-47 rifles and several automatic weapons. The killed insurgents were reportedly tasked with safeguarding senior Naxal leaders in the region.
Dantewada SP Gaurav Rai confirmed that in the first phase of the encounter, seven Naxalites were neutralized, with the toll rising to over 36 as clashes continued intermittently. The forces launched a well-coordinated strike on some of the Naxals’ most secure hideouts deep in the Abujmarh forests, successfully targeting several top-ranking Naxal commanders.
This operation marks a significant breakthrough for the security forces. Prior to this, the largest casualty in a single operation was the elimination of 29 Naxalites in Kanker. Officials described this as an unprecedented operation in scale and success.
According to police sources, an informant provided intel about the Naxal gathering late on Wednesday night. After several hours of planning, it was decided to mobilize troops from five districts for a coordinated assault. By Thursday morning, forces from Dantewada and Narayanpur were given command of the operation, and by the afternoon, they had reached the Naxal camp in Thulthuli, triggering a fierce firefight that left the insurgents unable to mount a defense.
Chief Minister Hails Success, Plans Intensified Anti-Naxal Campaign
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai lauded the operation as the largest and most successful anti-Naxal campaign to date. While the encounter was still ongoing, the CM held a high-level meeting with top police officials to review the operation and plan future strategies.
Sai reiterated his message to Maoists to abandon violence and integrate into the development process, warning that the state’s fight against Naxalism would only intensify after the monsoon. He asserted, “Maoism in Chhattisgarh is nearing its end. Thanks to the ‘double-engine’ government, we are taking on the insurgents with full strength.” He also highlighted Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism nationwide by March 2026, with Chhattisgarh playing a key role in that mission.
The CM is scheduled to meet with Amit Shah on October 7 to discuss the recent operations and the current status of the Naxal insurgency in the state.
Previous Operations Set the Stage for the Latest Success
In recent months, security forces have intensified their anti-Naxal efforts across Chhattisgarh. On March 27, six Naxalites were killed in Bijapur. On April 2, a further 13 were killed in the Korcholi forests of Bijapur, followed by the death of 29 Naxalites in Kanker on April 16, and 10 more in Tekameta, Abujmarh, on April 30.
The ongoing operation in Abujmarh is being led by DSP-rank officers. The forces have made significant gains in the area, including previous encounters where nine Naxalites were killed in the hills behind Bailadila, followed by the elimination of 14 others.
Soldiers are expected to return from the field by Saturday morning. They are staying overnight in the forests, taking precautions against Naxal ambushes, spiked traps, and pressure IEDs.
