At least 14 Maoists were killed in separate encounters with security forces in the forest areas of Chhattisgarh on Saturday morning. The clashes took place in the southern forest regions of Sukma and Bijapur, where security forces were carrying out anti-Maoist operations. After the encounters, forces recovered a large quantity of weapons and ammunition from the sites.
According to police officials, the first major encounter occurred in the southern forests of Sukma district. Security personnel were on a routine anti-Naxal operation when Maoists opened fire on them. The forces responded immediately, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. In this encounter, more than 12 Maoists were killed on the spot. Senior police officers said intermittent firing continued from around 5 a.m., and search operations in the area are still ongoing to ensure no armed cadres remain hidden in the forest.
At the same time, another encounter was reported in the neighbouring Bijapur district. Officials said a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a special unit of the state police, came face to face with Maoists during an operation in the southern forest belt of the district. In the exchange of fire, two Maoists were killed. Security forces recovered two bodies along with firearms and other materials from the spot.
Following these incidents, security has been tightened across the Bastar region, which has long been affected by Maoist activity. Police officials said surveillance has been intensified to prevent any movement of armed groups in the area. The latest encounters are seen as a significant setback for Maoist groups operating in central India.
Police data shows that last year alone, around 285 Maoists were killed in separate encounters with security forces across Chhattisgarh. Officials attribute this to improved coordination between central and state security agencies, better intelligence inputs, and sustained ground operations in interior forest areas. Authorities say the influence and operational capacity of Maoist groups have been gradually declining due to continuous pressure from security forces.
In a related development, a recent encounter in Odisha also dealt a blow to Maoist leadership. In Kandhamal district, Maoist senior leader Ganesh Uike was killed along with six others. Uike was carrying a reward of ₹1.10 crore on his head. Security officials believe the loss of senior leaders and cadres in successive encounters has weakened the Maoist network and disrupted their command structure.
