Major anti-Maoist operation in Bijapur forests: ₹65.52 lakh cash, weapons cache and explosives recovered
Raipur
Security forces recovered ₹65.52 lakh in cash, a large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosive materials from Maoist hideouts and underground dumps in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district during anti-Naxal operations conducted on May 13, 2026. Since 2024, seizures worth more than ₹20 crore have been made in the district as part of intensified operations against Maoists.
According to Bijapur SP Dr. Jitendra Kumar Yadav, joint teams of the district police, DRG, STF, CoBRA battalion and CRPF carried out coordinated search and area domination operations in sensitive forest areas. Acting on local intelligence inputs and information provided by surrendered Maoist cadres, the forces traced several concealed Maoist dumps in remote forests.
During operations conducted over the past month, security personnel recovered 32 weapons, including one Light Machine Gun (LMG) along with its barrel and magazine, 4 Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), 1 carbine rifle, 5 .303 rifles and 7 Barrel Grenade Launchers (BGLs).
The forces also seized 33 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 219 rounds of SLR ammunition, 181 rounds of .303 ammunition and 84 BGL shells. In separate operations, personnel recovered and destroyed 40 kg of ammonium nitrate from forests in the Kavargutta area under Pamed and another 100 kg of ammonium nitrate and urea from the National Park area.
Police officials said the seizure of cash, arms and explosive materials has dealt a major blow to Maoist logistics networks, arms supply chains and IED-making capabilities in the region.
Data released by the district police showed that 461 weapons have been recovered during the 2025-26 period alone. Since 2024, anti-Naxal operations in the district have resulted in the killing of 234 Maoists, while 1,192 individuals have been arrested and 1,003 others rehabilitated under surrender and rehabilitation initiatives.
Overall recoveries since 2024 include 517 weapons, 1,092 IEDs and assets worth ₹20.0852 crore. This includes ₹7.2852 crore in cash and 8.20 kg of gold estimated to be worth ₹12.80 crore.
The Bijapur SP appealed to local residents to assist security forces by sharing information regarding suspicious activities or hidden materials to help maintain peace and security in the region. He added that anti-Maoist operations would continue until the district is free from Maoist influence.
