12 bodies of suspected Maoists, cache of weapons recovered in Bijapur

Security forces recovered two .303 rifles, one 12-bore rifle, one .315-bore rifle, one rocket launcher, and three barrel grenade launchers, among other weapons, from the site

Updated on: Jan 17, 2025, 20:53:55 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: 12 bodies of suspected Maoists killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces on Thursday have been recovered from the encounter site in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur, police said on Friday.

A suspected Maoist camp was also destroyed (HT/ Representative photo)

Police also said that two senior Maoist commanders, Barse Deva who heads Battalion No. 1 of the CPI (Maoist) and Central Regional Committee (CRC) Company head Mandvi Hidma were learnt to have been at the encounter site when the gunfight erupted on Thursday. Both of them later managed to escape.

Sundarraj P, inspector general of police, Bastar Range, said a Maoist camp was destroyed, and two .303 rifles, one 12-bore rifle, one .315-bore rifle, one rocket launcher, and three barrel grenade launchers, were among the weapons seized from the site.

“A total of 12 hardcore Maoists, including 5 women were killed in the encounter and identification of members of battalion number and CRC company is going on,” said Sundarraj.

“We had information about Maoist presence in the border areas of Pamgarh, Usur, and Basaguda police stations, including the forests of Tumrel, Sigmapalli, Pujarikanker, and Malempenta. A joint team of DRG (District Reserve Guard) Bijapur, DRG Sukma, DRG Dantewada, STF, and paramilitary forces launched an anti-Maoist operation on Wednesday evening,” he said.

The gunfight started at 9am on Thursday and lasted till the evening.

Sundarraj said significant gains made in the anti-Naxal campaign in 2024 would continue into 2025.

“Despite all Maoist conspiracies and cowardly actions, the security forces, with strong morale and clear objectives, are dedicated to maintaining peace, security, and development in the Bastar region. In the past 16 days, 25 Maoists’ bodies have been recovered,” he said.

In a separate incident, two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly planted by Maoists detonated in Narayanpur district. The incident took place when a BSF road-opening party was clearing the route. The injured jawans were shifted to a hospital, and their condition is reported to be stable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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