Six Naxals Killed in Chhattisgarh Encounter; Two Police Personnel Sacrificed

Encounter in Bijapur District

In a recent encounter in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, at least six Naxals were killed. Tragically, two members of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) lost their lives during the anti-Naxal operation, as confirmed by officials. According to a police officer, the clash occurred in the forested area of Gangloor, near the Dantewada-Bijapur border, during an anti-Naxal operation. A joint team comprising the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), and the Cobra unit (a specialized unit of the CRPF) was conducting the operation.

Details of the Ongoing Operation

DIG Kamlochan Kashyap from Dantewada reported that the encounter has been ongoing for the past two hours. He stated that six Maoists have been confirmed dead, and their bodies have been recovered. There are concerns that the number of deceased Naxals may rise as the forces have surrounded a large group of them, and the operation is still active. With this latest action, a total of 268 Naxals have been killed in encounters across Chhattisgarh this year, with 239 of those in the Bastar division, which includes Bijapur and Dantewada among seven districts, while 27 others were killed in the Gariaband district of the Raipur division.

Recent Surrenders by Naxals

Earlier, on November 30, a total of 37 Naxals surrendered in Dantewada, with 27 of them having a combined bounty of ₹6.5 million. Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai mentioned that these surrenders occurred under the 'Poona Margem' initiative, which is supported by senior police and CRPF officials to promote rehabilitation and social reintegration. This group included 12 women, highlighting the inclusive approach of the program.

Notorious Naxals Among Surrendered

Among those who surrendered were notorious Naxals such as Kumali alias Anita Mandavi, Geeta alias Lakshmi Madkam, Ranjan alias Soma Mandavi, and Bhima alias Jahaj Kalamu, each carrying a bounty of ₹800,000.