Bijapur (Chhattisgarh), June 7: Seven Naxalites, including two senior leaders, were killed in a major anti-Naxal operation conducted by security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district between June 5 and 7. The joint operation involved the Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Guard (DRG), and the elite CoBRA unit and took place in the dense forests of the National Park region.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), P. Sundarraj, confirmed that the bodies of seven Naxals have been recovered so far. Among the deceased were two prominent figures: Central Committee Member Gautam alias Sudhakar and Bhaskar, a Telangana State Committee Member.
The security forces engaged in multiple encounters with Maoists over the three days. Subsequent search operations led to the recovery of a significant cache of arms and equipment, including two AK-47 rifles, magazines, and communication devices. Efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining five Naxals.
The IG also noted that some personnel sustained minor injuries due to environmental hazards like snake bites, bee stings, and dehydration, but their condition remains stable.
This latest success adds to the tally of 186 Maoists neutralized in the Bastar Range so far in 2025. Between 2024 and 2025, over 400 Maoists have been eliminated through sustained counter-insurgency operations.
Reacting to the development, Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Raman Singh cited Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s 2026 deadline for eradicating Naxalism, stating, “The police are working tirelessly, and we are confident of achieving complete success in this mission.”
