Six Maoists have been confirmed dead following a major encounter with security forces in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. The exchange of gunfire erupted around 10 am in the Indravati National Park area, a known Naxalite stronghold, during an anti-insurgency operation. Intelligence reports had pinpointed the location as a gathering point for senior Maoist figures. Personnel from the DRG of Bijapur and Dantewada, alongside the STF, engaged in a prolonged gun battle. Post-encounter searches yielded the bodies of six Naxalites, equipped with automatic firearms and explosives. The seized weapons include an INSAS rifle, sten guns, and a .303 rifle. Security forces extended their operations to establish a wider cordon and capture any escaping militants, involving units like the Bastar Fighters, CRPF, and CAF. The state government has lauded this operation as a significant victory in its relentless campaign against Naxalism, aiming for its complete eradication. The Chief Minister highlighted this success as aligning with national and state objectives to end Naxalite activities. In a separate development, an injured Naxalite was captured in the Tarlaguda area and hospitalized. The state has seen a total of 259 Naxalite fatalities in encounters this year.
