Eighteen Naxalites have been eliminated by security forces in a major counter-insurgency operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. The encounter took place in the dense forest areas bordering Dantewada district as part of an ongoing anti-Maoist campaign. Security forces also seized a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition, including AK-47 and INSAS rifles, from the site.
Authorities identified one of the slain cadres as Modiyam Vella, a company commander in the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). Vella was a wanted Naxalite, with a reward of Rs 8 lakh, and had been involved in planning and executing several attacks, including the 2020 Minpa ambush that killed 17 security personnel. His neutralization is considered a significant achievement.
The operation resulted in the tragic loss of three District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel: Head Constable Monu Vadadi, Constable Dukaru Gonde, and Jawan Ramesh Sodhi. Two other DRG members sustained injuries during the fierce firefight and are receiving medical care.
This incident is part of a broader trend of increased successes against Naxal groups in Chhattisgarh. This year alone, security forces have neutralized over 270 Naxalites statewide, with the Bastar division bearing the brunt of these operations. The efforts to combat Left-Wing Extremism continue, marked by both significant operational gains and the inherent risks faced by law enforcement.