A successful yet costly anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district has led to the elimination of six Maoist cadres and the martyrdom of two police jawans. The intense exchange of fire occurred in the heavily forested Gangaloor area, a region known for Naxal activity, adjacent to Dantewada.
A joint force, comprising personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), and the elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), was deep in an anti-insurgency sweep when the encounter began. Reports suggest the firefight lasted for around two hours. While six Naxalites were confirmed dead and their bodies recovered, the operation also saw the supreme sacrifice of two DRG soldiers.
Sources close to the operation state that the encounter is not fully concluded, with security forces holding a strategic advantage and surrounding a number of Naxalite fighters. This suggests the final number of Naxalite casualties could be higher. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by security forces in combating left-wing extremism in the region. The state has seen a significant number of Naxalites neutralized this year, demonstrating continued efforts to restore order.