Raipur
Security forces in Chhattisgarh killed 31 Naxalites on Friday in what is being described as the largest anti-Naxal operation in the state’s history. Late at night, Chief Minister Sai held a high-level meeting in Raipur to discuss the incident.
During the meeting, officials reviewed the encounter, assessed the current situation, and deliberated on future strategies. The Chief Minister reiterated that their fight against Naxalism will continue until it reaches its conclusion.
The encounter took place on the border between the Dantewada and Narayanpur districts, in the forest area between Nendur and Thulthuli villages, under the Orchha police station limits. The gun battle lasted for two hours, after which a search operation was launched. Security forces recovered the bodies of the Naxalites, along with weapons, including AK-47s and SLRs. Reports indicate that female Naxal commander Neeti was also killed in the encounter.
This significant Naxal encounter is being linked to a strategy formulated following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit. From August 23 to 25, Shah was on a three-day tour of Chhattisgarh. During this time, he chaired an inter-state coordination committee meeting involving seven Naxal-affected states, which included the chief secretaries, DGPs, and paramilitary officers. The meeting reviewed anti-Naxal operations and development initiatives in the affected areas. Shah had warned that Naxalites in Chhattisgarh should either surrender and join the mainstream or prepare to face action from the forces.
29 Naxalites killed in April, 31 more in October
Earlier this year, on April 15, 29 Naxalites, including 15 women, were killed in an encounter in the forests of the Chhotebetia police station area in Kanker. Among the dead were two DVCM cadre members, each carrying a bounty of ₹8 lakh. That encounter, which lasted for five-and-a-half hours, was the largest in Chhattisgarh’s Naxal history—until now, with the number of casualties exceeding 30.
Female Maoist commander with bounty of Rs 8-10 lakh killed
Reports suggest that female Naxal commander Neeti, a DVCM cadre member with a bounty of Rs 8-10 lakh, was killed in the encounter. She was active in the Eastern Bastar Division. Additionally, a DKSZC cadre Naxalite was also killed.
A month ago, three female Naxalites were killed
On August 29, an encounter occurred in the Abujmarh area on the Narayanpur-Kanker border, where three uniformed female Naxalites were killed. They were identified as members of the North Bastar Division Committee and PLGA Company No. 05. So far, in 2024, more than 171 Naxalites have been killed in encounters. Before the Dantewada encounter, Bastar Range IG Sundarraj P had reported that over 212 Naxalites had been arrested during the monsoon season, and 201 had surrendered as part of the ongoing anti-Naxal campaign.
171 Naxalites killed this year in the Bastar region
Security forces have killed 171 Naxalites in various encounters across the Bastar region this year, including districts like Dantewada and Narayanpur. This encounter marks the third in the last 11 days. On September 24, an encounter in Sukma district resulted in the killing of two Naxalites, although their comrades took the bodies with them.
