RAIPUR: At least 14 armed CPI (Maoist) cadres, including six women, were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in Sukma and adjoining Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, marking the first major anti-Naxalite operations of 2026, officials said.
The encounters took place around 450 km south of Raipur following specific intelligence inputs about the movement of Maoist cadres in the Basaguda-Tarrem forest area of Bijapur and Konta–Kistaram jungles of Sukma. Separate teams of District Reserve Guard (DRG) launched search operation, leading to intermittent exchanges of fire between the forces and the Maoists from Saturday morning.
“So far, 12 bodies of Maoists have been recovered during the search operation at the encounter scene of Sukma and two others in Bijapur,” Bastar IGP Sundarraj Pattilingam said, calling upon the remaining cadres to shun the path of armed movement and join the social mainstream to live a dignified life. Sukma SP Kiran Chavan said, “Konta Area Committee in-charge Vetti Manglu, who is stated to be responsible for the killing of ASP Akash Girpunje in an IED blast in June last year, and secretary Madvi Hitesh are among the 12 killed in Sukma.”
The forces also seized a large cache of arms, including an AK-47 rifle, INSAS assault rifle and two self-loading rifles, from the encounter sites. Search operations continued at different locations in both the districts following which the DRG forces engaged in the anti-Maoist campaign returned to their bases. The Bastar police are carrying out the identification process for the remaining bodies. There has been no report of any security personnel sustaining injuries in the gun battle.
“The year 2025 has been a historic and decisive year marked by significant achievements on the fronts of security, peace and development. Last year, in Bastar division alone, 256 Maoists were neutralised and 1650 cadres gave up the violent path and surrendered,” the Bastar IG said. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that due to the precise strategy and strong ground presence of security forces, the Maoist network has been rapidly weakening. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set March 31 deadline to make the country Maoist-free.
