A fierce and decisive anti-Maoist operation unfolded in Chhattisgarh's West Bastar division on Wednesday, resulting in a significant blow to the outlawed group. At least twelve Maoists were killed in an intense gunfight along the Bijapur-Dantewada inter-district border. However, the victory came at a painful cost, with three brave personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a specialised unit of the state police, making the supreme sacrifice. Two other jawans sustained injuries but are reported to be out of danger.
The gun battle erupted around 9:00 AM in the dense forests of the Gangaloor area, part of the core Maoist stronghold in the West Bastar Division. The operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of top Maoist cadres. A joint team comprising the District Reserve Guards (DRG) of Dantewada and Bijapur, the Special Task Force (STF), and the elite COBRA unit of the CRPF cornered the insurgents. Intermittent firing continued for hours as security forces maintained a coordinated and aggressive offensive.
Following the encounter, security forces successfully recovered the bodies of twelve Maoist cadres from the site. A significant cache of weapons, including SLR rifles, INSAS rifles, .303 rifles, and other arms and ammunition, was also seized. Among the dead was identified a high-value target: a key Maoist commander from the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), who was involved in major past attacks on security personnel and carried a substantial reward on his head. This successful operation underscores the sustained pressure security forces are exerting on the Maoist network in the Bastar region.
The nation mourns the loss of the three martyred DRG personnel, identified as Head Constable Monu Vadadi, Constable Dukaru Gonde, and Jawan Ramesh Sodi, all hailing from the Bijapur DRG unit. Their sacrifice was acknowledged by the state's Chief Minister, who paid rich tributes to their bravery and reiterated the government's commitment to eradicating Left-Wing Extremism. The current year's toll on the Maoist front has now climbed, with this latest action being one of the most successful anti-Naxal operations in recent months, signalling the decisive push by the state and central forces to meet the deadline set for wiping out the insurgency. Search and combing operations are ongoing in the area to ensure it is completely sanitised.
