In a significant anti-Maoist operation, security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district neutralized two armed Maoists during a fierce gunfight along the Indravati River area on Thursday. The encounter, triggered by precise intelligence inputs, led to the recovery of a substantial cache of weapons and explosives.
A joint team of security personnel launched a search operation in the dense forests near the Indravati River after receiving credible tips about Maoist presence. As the forces combed the rugged terrain, they came under heavy fire from a group of uniformed insurgents, sparking an intense exchange of bullets that lasted several hours.
Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav confirmed the recovery of two Maoist bodies at the site. The haul included an SLR rifle, an INSAS rifle, a 12-bore rifle, along with explosives and other materials linked to rebel activities. ‘The operation underscores our commitment to rooting out Maoist menace from the region,’ Yadav stated.
Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Sundarraj Pattingal added that search operations continue in the surrounding areas to flush out any remaining threats. A detailed report on the encounter is expected soon as operations remain underway.
In a related development from neighboring Dantewada district, a court delivered a stern verdict against two Maoists, sentencing them to five years of rigorous imprisonment each and imposing a fine of Rs 5,000. Identified as Hunga alias Guttam Sodi and Joga Kudami, both residents of Pordem village under Gadiras police station in Sukma, the duo was arrested on May 20, 2024.
The case was registered at Arnapur police station under provisions of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and Explosives Substances Act, 1908. Prosecutors presented compelling evidence, including the recovery of tiffin bombs and detonators from their possession.
The court convicted them under Section 4(b) of the Explosives Substances Act, 1908. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of simple imprisonment. This ruling marks another blow to the Maoist network in the Bastar region, where security forces are intensifying efforts to dismantle insurgent infrastructure.
These back-to-back successes highlight the sustained pressure on left-wing extremists, with intelligence-driven operations and judicial interventions working in tandem to restore peace in Chhattisgarh’s sensitive zones.