Security Forces Engage in Deadly Clashes with Maoists in Chhattisgarh
Recent Clashes Result in Fatalities
In Chhattisgarh, fourteen individuals suspected of being Maoists were reported dead following two separate confrontations with security personnel in the Sukma and Bijapur districts on Saturday. This incident marks the first armed conflict of the year involving suspected Maoists and security forces.
The encounters were initiated after intelligence reports indicated the presence of Maoists in the Basaguda-Tarrem forest area of Bijapur and the Konta-Kistaram jungles in Sukma. In response, the District Reserve Guard (DRG) commenced distinct search operations in these regions.
An unnamed officer disclosed that exchanges of gunfire between the DRG and Maoists began around 5 am in Bijapur, while similar skirmishes in Sukma started around 8 am. Sundarraj P, the inspector general of police for the Bastar range, confirmed that the remains of 12 suspected Maoists had been retrieved from Sukma and two from Bijapur, with search operations still ongoing in various locations.
This development follows the recent death of a prominent Maoist leader, Ganesh Uike, who was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Odisha's Kandhamal district on December 25. Uike was the head of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) in Odisha and had a bounty of Rs 1.1 crore on his head.
In addition to Uike, three other suspected Maoists lost their lives during the confrontation in a forest area near the Chakapad police station. Earlier, on December 16, the Union government reported to Parliament that 335 'Left-wing extremists' had been killed, while 2,167 had surrendered in 2025. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai stated that 942 Left-wing extremists were apprehended this year.
Since 2014, a total of 1,841 individuals associated with such groups have been killed, over 16,000 arrested, and 9,588 surrendered. The Union government has committed to eradicating Maoism by March 31, 2026.
In October, the Union home ministry indicated a reduction in the number of districts affected by 'Left-wing extremism' from 18 to 11 since March. The number of 'most affected' districts has also decreased from six to three, specifically Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh.
Throughout the Union government's anti-Maoist campaign this year, significant leaders like Uike and Madvi Hidma have been eliminated, while others, including Vikas Nagpure alias Anant and Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi, have surrendered.
A report highlighted that in the Andhra Pradesh village nearest to Hidma's death, residents reported not hearing any gunfire. Previous reports have indicated that many individuals killed in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region were labeled as reward-carrying Maoists by police, a claim disputed by several families who assert that those killed were civilians.
Civil liberties organizations and opposition parties have raised concerns regarding these fatalities, alleging that they may constitute 'fake encounters.'