30 Maoists, soldier killed in Chhattisgarh encounters: Police

A gunfight broke out at 7 am in the forest along the border of Bijapur and Dantewada districts, a statement issued by the police said

Published on: Mar 20, 2025, 12:38:25 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Raipur: At least 26 suspected Maoists and a district reserve guard (DRG) soldier were killed on Thursday in an encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, police said. Four more suspected Maoists were gunned down in a separate encounter in Kanker district.

The statement said that at least 26 bodies of Maoists were recovered along with firearms and explosives in Bijapur district (HT photo)

“A gunfight broke out at 7 am in the forest along the border of Bijapur and Dantewada districts. A joint team of security personnel was conducting an anti-Naxalite operation under the Gangaloor police station area (Bijapur),” a statement issued by the police said.

The statement further mentioned that the bodies of the 26 Maoists were recovered along with firearms and explosives. The police said that the search is ongoing and more details are awaited.

Also Read: Bijapur encounter: 5 Maoist bodies identified; tributes paid to 2 slain jawans

“The second encounter is going on at Kanker–Narayanpur border area. We have recovered four bodies and an automatic rifle till now,” said Indira Kalyan Elesela, superintendent of police (SP), Kanker.

At least 31 suspected Maoists, including 11 women, were killed in Bijapur on March 9. The Chhattisgarh police identified five of the 31 Maoists, including a divisional committee member (DVCM) of the banned CPI (Maoist), who were killed. Weapons recovered from the encounter site included one AK-47 rifle, one SLR rifle, one INSAS rifle, one .303 rifle, one .315 bore rifle, one BGL Rocket Launcher (large) with a stand, six BGL launchers, and laser printers.

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As many as 81 Maoists have been gunned down by security forces in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh so far this year. Of these 81 rebels, 65 were killed in the Bastar division, comprising seven districts, including Bijapur.

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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