In a decisive strike against Maoist insurgency, security forces delivered a significant setback to the West Bastar division of CPI (Maoist) by eliminating 26 hardcore Naxals—including 14 women—in an intense gunfight in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on March 20.
Authorities confirmed that 18 of the deceased militants have been identified. Among them were one divisional committee (DVC) leader, five area committee members (ACMs), three platoon party committee members (PPCMs), and nine cadres from the PLGA platoon number 13—one of the most dreaded formations in the region. These operatives collectively carried cash rewards totaling ₹89 lakh.
The fierce exchange erupted in the dense Andri forest under Gangaloor area, a long-standing Maoist stronghold located behind the Bailadila hill range. The region has often seen attacks on key infrastructures like the Bailadila iron ore mines and the vital Kirandul-Kothavalasa railway line.
Senior police officials stated that with the elimination of multiple senior Maoist leaders, the operational strength of the West Bastar division has drastically weakened. The encounter also resulted in the recovery of a large haul of sophisticated weaponry, including AK-47 rifles, sniper rifles, INSAS rifles, rocket launchers, grenade launchers, and various improvised explosive devices.
This is part of a larger crackdown, with 97 Naxals gunned down in the Bastar region over the past 80 days—82 of them in Bijapur district alone.
Officials believe this will pave the way for economic revival, road construction, and better connectivity for local tribal communities.
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