In a significant security operation in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, at least six Naxalites were killed in an encounter on Wednesday. The engagement also claimed the lives of two jawans of the police's District Reserve Guard (DRG), who were declared martyred.
According to officials, the gun battle erupted in the forested Gangaloor area, near the inter-district border of Dantewada and Bijapur—a region long considered a stronghold of left-wing extremism. The operation was launched by a joint team comprising the DRG, the Special Task Force (STF), and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), an elite unit of the CRPF.
Dantewada Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kamalochan Kashyap confirmed the details, stating, "The encounter has been ongoing for the past two hours. Six Maoists have been killed so far, and their bodies have been recovered. Two DRG soldiers were also martyred in the encounter." He added that security forces had surrounded a large number of Naxalites and that the operation was still in progress, with the casualty figure among the insurgents likely to rise.
This incident is the latest in a series of intensified operations against Naxalites in Chhattisgarh this year. With these six fatalities, the total number of Naxalites killed in encounters across the state in 2024 has risen to 268.
The Bastar division, which includes seven districts such as Bijapur and Dantewada, has been the epicenter of this campaign, accounting for 239 of these casualties. An additional 27 were neutralized in Gariaband district (Raipur division), and two in the Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district of the Durg division. These numbers underscore the heightened operational tempo and intelligence-led strategy adopted by security forces in the region.
While kinetic operations continue, the state is also witnessing a parallel success through its surrender and rehabilitation policy. Just days before this encounter, on November 30, a total of 37 Naxal operatives surrendered in Dantewada. Significantly, 27 of them were carrying collective bounties worth Rs 65 lakh on their heads.
The surrender took place under the state's "Poona Margem" initiative, which facilitates the rehabilitation and social reintegration of former insurgents. Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai oversaw the ceremony, which included 12 women cadres—a testament to the scheme's inclusive outreach.
Notable among those who surrendered were Kumali alias Anita Mandavi, Geeta alias Laxmi Madkam, Ranjan alias Soma Mandavi, and Bhima alias Jahaj Kalmu, each carrying an individual bounty of Rs 8 lakh.
Under the state's surrender policy, cadres who renounce violence receive an immediate assistance of Rs 50,000, along with provisions for skill development training, agricultural land, and other support mechanisms to help them rebuild their lives within the societal mainstream.
The twin developments—a fierce encounter and a major surrender—highlight the two-pronged approach being employed in Chhattisgarh's long-standing struggle against left-wing extremism. While security forces maintain pressure through decisive operations deep within Maoist strongholds, sustained efforts are also being made to encourage disaffection within the ranks of the insurgents and offer a peaceful alternative.
As the encounter in Gangaloor continues, the security establishment remains on high alert. The loss of the two DRG jawans is a somber reminder of the persistent human cost of this conflict, even as the state records strategic gains against the Naxalite movement.
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