India's war on red terror: 113 Maoists eliminated in 80 days; Amit Shah hails 'another major success'

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In just 80 days, security forces in Chhattisgarh have eliminated 113 Maoists, with 91 of them killed in Bijapur alone. In the previous year, 287 Maoists were neutralised in the Bastar division.

On Thursday, the security forces killed at least 30 members of the banned CPI (Maoists) in two separate encounters in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. While 26 Maoists were killed in Bijapur district, four were gunned down in Kanker.

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Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 20, 2025

Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the bravery of the forces. In a post on X, the minister wrote, “Our soldiers have achieved in the direction of 'Naxal-Free India Campaign'. Many Naxals were killed in two operations by our security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur and Kanker. Modi govt is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Naxals, and despite various facilities for surrender and inclusion, it is adopting a zero-tolerance policy against those Naxals who refuse to surrender. The country is set to be Naxal-free by March 31 next year."

Bastar range IG P Sundarraj was quoted by TOI saying that the encounter took place in Gangaloor, Bijapur, a region notorious for insurgency and bloodshed. This marks the first major operation in Gangaloor since Maoist commander Dinesh Modiyam's surrender on March 3, who had been a key figure in the area. During the encounter, 26 of Modiyam's former associates were killed. The operations in Bijapur and Kanker, located nearly 300km apart, were launched simultaneously.

IG Sundarraj informed that a joint team of Bijapur and Sukma District Reserve Guards (DRG), CoBRA commandos and CRPF personnel set out on an operation in Gangaloor based on specific inputs about the presence of Maoists.

The first exchange of gunfire occurred around 7 am, with intermittent firing continuing until afternoon. Once the firing ceased, the forces found 26 Maoists dead across the battlefield. Police also apprehended a group of senior cadres in the forest, with ongoing searches still in progress.

A security man also died in the gunfight. The body of DRG jawan Raju Oyam has been retrieved. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai honoured his sacrifice, stating, "His sacrifice will not be in vain. Our fight against Naxalism continues with great strength."

In Kanker, a joint team of DRG and BSF targeted Maoists from the North Bastar Marh division. Four bodies were found in the forests along the borders of Kanker and Narayanpur districts, Kanker SP Kalyan Elesela informed. A significant cache of explosives and several advanced weapons, including Insas rifles, AK-47s, and SLRs, were seized from the two locations.

IG Sundarraj stated that multiple operations were conducted simultaneously across different parts of Bastar, focusing on Maoists in the South Bastar division, covering Bijapur, Sukma, and Dantewada. Bastar police confirmed that operations are still ongoing in the forests along the borders of Bijapur and Dantewada districts.