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Security forces gunned down 31 Maoists in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district today, the police said. The encounter began deep inside the forest in the Indravati National Park area when a security team was conducting an anti-Maoist operation. Two security personnel have been killed in the gunfight.
According to a government statement, two security personnel have also been injured. They are out of danger and have been evacuated for treatment.
Announcing the news in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated his "resolve" to root out Maoists by March 31, 2026. Expressing his condolences for the two soldiers who lost their lives, he wrote, "This country will always be indebted to these heroes".
A rough translation of his Hindi post read: "In the direction of making India Naxal-free, the security forces have achieved a major success in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. In this operation, along with killing 31 Naxalites, a large amount of weapons and explosives have also been recovered. Today we have lost two of our brave soldiers in ending anti-human Naxalism. This country will always be indebted to these heroes. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers. Also, I reiterate my resolve that before 31 March 2026, we will root out Naxalism from the country, so that no citizen of the country has to lose his life due to it".
The encounter broke out when the rebels faced off with a joint team comprising security personnel from the District Reserve Group, Special Task Force and Bastar Fighter Force. Following the gunfight, the forces found the bodies of 31 rebels in fatigues.
They also recovered a large number of firearms, including AK 47 rifles, Self Loading Rifles and INSAS, and grenade launchers. Explosives were also recovered.
Officials have said the Maoists killed in the gunfight are being identified. A search operation is on and more forces have been rushed to the encounter site, officials said.
Mr Shah had reiterated his resolve on January 6 after eight District Reserve Guard personnel and their driver were killed when their vehicle was blown up by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur.
According to Chhattisgarh Police, so far this year, 49 Maoists have been killed in the state in separate encounters. Of them, 33 were killed in the Bastar division that comprises seven districts, including Bijapur.
On January 20-21, the police said, 16 Maoists were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Raipur division's Gariaband district.
Last year, 219 Maoists were neutralised by security forces in separate encounters in the state, according to the police.