In a significant development, 17 Naxalites laid down arms in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Thursday. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav confirmed that the surrendered rebels were affiliated with the Gangaloor area committee of the banned Maoist outfit and had been active in various roles.

This comes on the heels of intensified anti-Naxal operations in the region. Just last month, 18 Naxalites were arrested in a series of operations across three different locations in Bijapur. The security forces recovered explosives during these arrests, with 10 Maoists nabbed in Gunjeperti forests (Usur PS limits) and 7 more in Rajpenta forests (Basaguda PS area). Another Maoist was apprehended with explosives in a joint effort by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bhairamgarh Police.

One of the most notable recent successes came on February 9, when security forces neutralized 31 Naxalites in a fierce encounter in the forests under the National Park area. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai lauded the bravery of the forces, commending their relentless fight against insurgency. He also paid tribute to the two jawans who lost their lives in the operation.

Additionally, on February 1, eight Naxalites were eliminated in another encounter in the district, reflecting the sustained pressure being mounted by security personnel.